Bandit's Antics-Heavy Grind Spews Negativity (New Video Debut)
Bandit’s forthcoming full length Siege of Self, out on April 20th through GBCT, Holy Goat, and Lower Class Records, begins with a paraphrased quote from German sociologist Max Weber. “Better to have a concept of yourself as bad than to have nothing.” To put it bluntly, better to think of yourself as an asshole than to have no identity at all. In their new single “Mangled Sheep,” the Philly trio put this maxim into practice, embodying a grindcore hooliganism that makes self-hatred look as fun as any act of self-care.
Fresh off opening for Gridlink and Chepang, “Mangled Sheep” finds Bandit in what amounts, for a grind act, to long form songwriting. Instead of the usual minute long barrage of blasts, “Mangled Sheep” rumbles its way to a two and a half minute run time. Bandit use this extra runway to show off their stylistic range, incorporating thrash metal’s mid-paced churn and hardcore’s show-stopping-fight-starting breakdowns. It also reveals more of their personality. In the song’s video, which you can watch below, the band make the most of a trip to an abandoned gym, tagging their band name on the walls and shooting basketballs on broken hoops. The music might be hard, but it’s a fun hang.
…
…
Vocalist Gene Meyer makes the most of his screen time, mugging through a busted grate and delivering lyrics while hanging from the ceiling. Bandit fans may have already seen footage of Meyer stripped down to his boxers at Saint Vitus when they opened for the reunited See You Next Tuesday on social media. Clearly they are willing to go the distance for your attention, but again, better to risk being seen as annoying than not being seen at all. The slower pace also draws the ear right to Meyer’s lyrics. Don’t let the antics fool you, this is some heavy shit. Meyers writes about violence with plainspoken intimacy, bending autobiography into pile-on mantras. And thanks to a stellar production job from Colin Marston you can catch every sordid detail without losing the crackling raw energy Bandit bring to the track.
…
Siege of Self releases April 20th through GBCT, Holy Goat & Lower Class Records.
