I have two sisters (both younger) and growing up I found myself with their chores on my list, despite the initial fair divide decreed by our parents. I went to university (I know- my level of pretension and rambling introductions give that away) and was often submitted to the dreaded group project. You know how it goes. Group chat, a half-baked Google Slides presentation, several ‘sorry I got busy at work’ messages and one person who steps in and does everything. Unfortunately, that person was usually me. It’s alright- I was happy to martyr myself for a five minute presentation on Byzantine farming methods. I’m currently employed (to the shock and awe of several aunts and many of my teachers) and I find myself, more often than not, in the office far past working hours, helping colleagues with projects and reports. What I’m saying is, I have a certain tendency to end up with other people’s work. I’m not complaining; I’m just noting it. Am I a pushover or an overachiever? Depends on how flattering of an image I’m willing to paint on any particular day.
Given all this, it’s a nice change of pace when someone else does my work for me.
Nasty, brutish, and short- that about sums it up. Thank you, quite earnestly, to Half Dead for simmering down their entire album, entire ethos really, into three words. It certainly makes my job a lot easier.
Nasty, Brutish, and Short, released September 15th on Early Onset Records, marks the sophomore effort of Canadian punk band Half Dead. The quartet have been heating up, opening for Dead Quiet and The Real McKenzies as well as playing MASSIF FEST. Their first album, Binch, is a seven minute, 11 track hypersonic experience, on which they expand, with great success, on 2023’s Nasty, Brutish, and Short, which boasts a 22 minute runtime. I’m not one to turn down a helping hand so let’s use Half Dead’s provided criteria. What’s nasty? What’s short? What’s brutish?
Nasty. How do they mean it? Nasty, nasty or nasty- there’s several directions you can go here. Half Dead, with their sludgy riffs and cutting lyrics mean it dirty, grimy and most importantly, derisive. The driving riff on ‘Copaganda’ carries scathing words like “do they bleed blue?/ I really want to see” along with the chorus refrain of “don’t feed the swine”. ‘Land Hoard’ bursts in with a heavy bassline and screeching guitar. Tag team vocals proclaim “landlordings not a job/ land hoardings not a job”. Booming with a doom and gloom riff, ‘Ritalin’ lets its vocals weave in and out of the galloping beat. When you take a moment to listen you’ll hear an honest, and heated, rumination on mental health.
It’s rough, it’s tough, it’s spilling its beer on you in a mosh pit, it’s brutish. A vigorous viciousness permeates the album, from screamed vocals so raw they sound sweaty to a high-hat that feels like it’s ringing from inside your ear. ‘In Control’ makes a particular show of this relentless battery with the best vocals on the album and a rhythmically chugging guitar. A choice example of what to do with abusers is spelled out in ‘Pound of Flesh’. A catchy bassline bobs along as cries of “cut it off at the wrist/ keep you hands to yourself”. A wall of sound that could knock you off your feet (or at least get a crowd moving in a mosh pit) rings out on ‘Luxury Bones’. Expert drum work and ruthless vocals growl throughout the track.
Let’s keep this section as the namesake suggests- short. What’s short? Well, the entire album. Opening track ‘Tithes’ weighs in at 1 minute 43 seconds. The entire album is under 22 minutes long. While this is great for those of us with a short attention span, a few of the songs feel cut short and slightly underdeveloped- see ‘Running Down the Clock’ and ‘In Control’. It’s punk in a traditional sense and you can’t pick a fight with that. Half Dead only need a few minutes to make an enduring impression; why add another verse when you’ve reached greatness at the 1 minute 30 second mark?
From the merciless drumming to the charged lyrics, Half Dead lived up to their album’s name in spectacular fashion. It’s inflammatory. It’s harsh. It’s short and not so sweet. It’s Nasty, Brutish, and Short and it’s out now on BandCamp and all streaming services.
