Year: 2025
Label: Break The Records/Fight Records/SPHC Records
The warhogs are back, true to their style. Finnish Kürøishi are instantly recognizable from their cover artwork, always featuring wild boars, always courtesy of Akihiko “Sugi” Sugimoto. Maybe it’s not characteristic quite to Eddie/Snaggletooth levels, but there’s no mistaking a Kürøishi album cover for anyone else.
And whilst their sound is not as distinct in identity, it will be very familiar to everyone who’ve heard their previous material. Angry, aggressive crust punk is still the order of the day.
This lengthier story could be cut short: if you’ve liked the previous albums, you’ll like this one. If you’ve heard the previous albums, you’ll know what this sounds like. Essentially, Egocide Of The Warmad is more of the same, with the same quality as before. I’m guessing a great many will know everything you need to know with the above.
But for those not familiar with Kürøishi, let’s expand a bit. Extreme punk is their style, more precisely a rather rocking form of heavy and hard crust punk. Think of all the significant names of the Swedish scene – Martyrdöd, Disfear, Wolpack/brigade – and what have you, and you will have a pretty good idea of what Kürøishi sound like. Furious and fast with tungsten grade blocky riffs and hoarse, gravelly shouted vocals.
Then, throw in just a pinch of something like Motörhead at their very punkiest. Let simmer for half an hour. You’ve got yourself one Kürøishi.
So, originality is out of the door. Even within Kürøishi’s own context, this album is thoroughly familiar. But does it matter? Not one iota. Starting with the title track, which opens the proceedings, this is a furious and vitriolic blast of extreme punk. Clocking in at a mere 24 minutes, it’ll leave you hungry for seconds.
The one thing the album could do with are some more standout tracks. As it is now, the opening track makes a lasting impression mostly because it’s the opening track. I mean, it’s a good one, like the rest, but there are few truly discerning elements to them. Try spinning this on random: at least I find myself hard pressed to recognize this track from that even after copious amounts of spins.
But, despite being cut from one cloth, Egocide Of The Warmad doesn’t become samey. In part, it’s brief running time helps make sure of that. But primarily, it’s the energy, the drive, the aggression – the quality. Kürøishi prove you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to make something truly worthwhile.
Only Death Is Real 