SIMULAKRA - Reincarnation (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

I am neither big and burly nor lean and mean, but yes, all the rumors are true. I have indeed been working out a lot lately. Thanks so much for noticing!

Unironically though, I am really proud of the gains and the consistency I've made lately, and none of it would be remotely possible without the assistance of my favorite and most valued workout companion: muscular hardcore riffage. Real heavyweight breakdown-laden shit. It reeks of stale sweat. You know the stuff, even if you regularly make a habit of avoiding it. 

Anyways. Clocking in at a brisk 11 minutes and change, this 5 track EP is vicious and bloody. From the opening pummeling of "Dead On The Cross," it is very clear that Simulakra deal in outright savagery. Listening to Reincarnation is like unto being splattered to death by a berserker wielding a 20lb sledge. Reincarnation is a pulpy bloodbath littered with bone fragments. Reincarnation demands that the listener reacts by moving with an urgency and a disregard for discomfort, and from a purely practical perspective, that alone is a damn fine quality. 

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​While nominally metallic hardcore, Simulakra leans into buzzsaw riffage, bringing a deathy vibe to the whole affair. The guitars are buzzy and thick as hell, delivering a borderline Swedeath presence alongside the snarling vocal intensity and tough guy groove. And yet, while acknowledging the violence on display, it's worth noting that Reincarnation is also quite lithe and dynamic. The tempo changes and inevitable breakdowns are thoroughly engaging, keeping the aggression moving in a gloriously kinetic fashion. If you're looking to headbang and/or throw some elbows, this EP is littered with moments that effectively force you to engage. Take the third track, "Sanctify," as a prime example. There's a glorious physical push and pull, particularly on the back half of the track, where the furious urgency is dragged down into a thick slog. More than mere pit fodder, these massive breakdowns make me feel like I'm death-rolling with an alligator in a pit of molasses.
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​Reincarnation is wonderfully bellicose, but beyond that, it is exceptionally well-crafted. Technically, these guys are firing on every goddamn cylinder. The aforementioned riffs are beefy and pugilistic, yet precise. The vocals are harsh and emotive and combative. The drums are particularly fantastic, providing both piledriving heft and frantic fury with a seamless belligerence. 

Although over far too quickly, this EP is a requirement for any playlist needing a little extra oomph, a little extra aggressive energy. I have queued it up during every single workout since release, often on repeat, and I'm far from tired of listening. Bottom line? Simulakra are very good at what they do, and while their 2022 album The Infection Spreads is pretty damn great, I would classify this EP as truly excellent.

Simulakra - Reincarnation was released March 15th, 2024, via DAZE. Find it here!

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