Reaktörí

Reviews

Reaktörí Radiation Sickness EP

Exactly the kind of record you want spinning while civilization collapses. REAKTORI is a “fallout punk” trio, representing Vancouver, and previously heard on their excellent 2024 demo. Four tracks of end-of-the-world racket equipped with the most vicious D-beats, metallic riffing, and enough radioactive feedback to make your ears bleed. The influences sit somewhere between DISCHARGE, ANTI-CIMEX, WOLFPACK and the nastier side of Japanese hardcore, but REAKTORI keeps it crusty, primitive and gloriously pissed-off. “Devastating Chaos,” “Bomb Blast Inferno,” “Radiation,” and “Fallout” are four short blasts of apocalypse-ready punk violence. No survivors!

Reaktörí 反応器 demo cassette

This is a new band from Vancouver that I have seen mentioned several times but never actually checked out. Don’t you feel overwhelmed by the number of new music being released all the time? How can one focus long enough on a given record in order to relate to it? You have four hours, and I want the copies on my desk tomorrow by 9:00 am. Thanks. I understand REAKTÖRI’s drummer also hits things in PHANE, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the other two fellows have been involved in bands before as well. Because of the moniker’s translation into kanji, I was expecting a full-on Japanese-style hardcore band, but the main influence here is closer to beefy Swedish hardcore. ANTI CIMEX or DRILLER KILLER are not far, but the production is rawer (it is a demo, after all). There is a lot of echo and effect on the vocals, a little too much for my taste, and it took me a couple of listens to get used to it. It also reminds me of ’00s PDX bands like BLOOD SPIT NIGHTS or DOG SOLDIER, especially with the “charged punk” vibe of the recording. Pretty good shit, and I can imagine them being great live.