Merked Oakland / Cleveland split EP
Oakland’s sludge-infused wrecking crew MERKED joins forces with Cleveland’s crust-drenched hardcore unit PILLARS for a pure sonic devastation split. Oakland/Cleveland is a collision of scenes. MERKED tags their style sludge violence, and it’s a spot-on descriptor for their grim sound. The opener starts with eerie sound clips before erupting into pummeling powerviolence infused with super heavy sludge. The trio mixes punishing riffs with unpredictable tempo shifts, creating a brutal ride within just four minutes. PILLARS jump in with “Occupation,” a four-minute dose of metallic crust reminiscent of TRAGEDY and INTEGRITY. Then comes “Piss Off,” a concise and savage 44-second-long killing spree. This split is a dynamic showcase of the potential of the current underground scene.