Illiterates Does Not Compute LP

Another cracker from the fine folks at Sorry State, ILLITERATES’ Does Not Compute chalks up another win for the “dumbest band in hardcore” (their words, not mine). Following their excellent 2023 12”, this LP sees the band maintain the blunt force of their previous output while refining the production, giving the proceedings a real pop. Each instrument sounds huge, particularly the bass which really rumbles. ILLITERATES’ greatest strength though is their vocalist who fully leads the charge. He kind of reminds me of a particularly irate Ray Cappo, yelling about social issues as well as some very well-written introspection. “Remember When” and the title track are particularly effective in their songwriting, the former grieving over the lost passage of time and the latter lamenting the overload of modern technology frying our individual and collective brains. Does Not Compute is a great LP that crushes and has something important to say. Maybe ILLITERATES shouldn’t be so hard on themselves, there’s nothing dumb about them.

• Reviewer Eric Anderson
• Label Sorry State
• Issue MRR #508 • September 2025