Drugs of Faith – Asymmetrical

Drugs of Faith formed in 2002 by guitarist Richard “The Grindfather” Johnson of Enemy Soil fame, alongside bassist Taryn Wilkinson and drummer Ethan Griffiths. They describe themselves as socio-political grind ’n’ roll, though their sound is highly atypical for the genre. You certainly couldn’t mistake them for post-2003 Malignant Tumour. Drugs of Faith take a more experimental and often groovy approach, with a heavy dose of the sort of noise rock associated with Amphetamine Reptile. Bands such as Godheadsilo, Unsane, and The Jesus Lizard immediately come to mind.

Drugs of Faith have built a strong back catalog of two albums, four demos, two splits, and three EPs, making quite a name for themselves in the international grindcore scene through their unique sound and clever lyrics.

Their third full-length album, Asymmetrical, was released in February 2025 on CD by Selfmadegod Records and on vinyl by Malokul. The title aptly describes the nature of the record. Continuing the increasingly noise rock-influenced direction of their last few releases, this album sounds even punchier and more dissonant.

Asymmetrical was recorded, engineered, and mixed by Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations and mastered by J.C. Griffin at Lakebottom Recording. The production is really something else, bringing out a vital, upbeat, and punk-driven sound with particular attention paid to the rhythm section. The bass stands out with its physical, buzzsaw tone, while the guitars are spazzy and dissonant, often moving into more atmospheric and sludgy territory. Frequent outbursts of grindcore and powerviolence brutality, along with tremolo riffing, make the record even more eclectic.

The constant tension between the dissonant noise rock passages and crusty grind riffs makes Asymmetrical stand out. The rhythm section is flawless, with the distorted bass taking interesting and unexpected turns. The drumming follows the strange compositions perfectly, even when the riffs move into offbeat terrain and noisy chaos. This requires attentive and, at times, almost jazzy playing. Ethan Griffiths once again proves himself a master of his craft. All of this is accompanied by Richard Johnson’s wide vocal range, from death growls and despondent hardcore screams to almost clean, shouted singing. The vocals are another refreshing part of the record, especially in a genre where the usual tropes can quickly become boring. Drugs of Faith avoid that and create something recognizably their own. Such a compact sound with this much variety and such an original approach to composition is rare not only in grindcore, but in punk more broadly.

Drugs of Faith have always been an odd bunch, but Asymmetrical shows what they are fully capable of. In my opinion, this is their best work yet. We can only guess what they will cook up next, as they have set the standard very high and sound completely comfortable with their oddball, experimental approach. Lyrically, the band tackle a broad range of social and political subjects, including state militarism, environmental destruction, and post-apocalyptic visions. Their pessimistic outlook runs through the album’s grim and desperate lyrics, though they ultimately suggest that “global consciousness wakes up our world even while it’s too late.”

If you’re into atypical and original grindcore, noise rock, or mathgrind, you will most likely enjoy this release. Musical protest this distinctive feels essential right now.