J-Man
Released the same year as their full-length album Dirge, Singaporean act Wormrot have also released a short, five-minute EP in the form of Noise. A "noisy" effort indeed, this short blast of grindcore is over before you even know what hit you, and the relentless blast beats and muddy guitar riffs make this a prime example of grindcore in its rawest form. I wouldn't label Noise as a particularly noteworthy release - it's far too short to leave a lasting impression on the listener and the music itself isn't anything particularly new - but it's another solid effort from Wormrot for sure. People who enjoyed Dirge should surely take advantage of this EP's free availability.
The music here is exactly what we've heard from Wormrot on Dirge. Expect angst-ridden, pissed-off, and just plain brutal grindcore with frequent hardcore tendencies. Frantic drumming, eclectic harsh vocal styles, and filthy guitar riffs make up this short EP, and Wormrot doesn't ever allow the listener to catch their breath. When I say that this EP is "like a punch in the face", I say that with complete seriousness - Noise is an extremely fast-paced and heavy adventure that isn't for anyone even remotely faint of heart. The raw, extremely unpolished production makes this EP even filthier, and I think it suits the music perfectly.
Noise may not be a revolutionary statement for the grindcore genre, but it's a decent EP that fans of Wormrot will definitely want to check out. I really wish that there were an additional ten minutes or so on this EP; at this current five-minute length it doesn't have nearly enough time to become a memorable experience. Especially when the music is this fast-paced, five minutes just doesn't give me enough of an adrenaline rush to make this EP particularly noteworthy. All things considered, 2.5 stars seems like a fair score for Noise. It is available for free download, though, so fans and skeptics alike should check it out - after all, one listen will only take up five minutes of your life.