Pan Zlobek – Anti-Discrust Monarcho-Punk

Pan Zlobek hail from Russia, drawing heavy influence from crust and grind legends like Doom, Extreme Noise Terror, and Driller Killer. Their name, curiously, comes from a film by Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer, but that’s a bit of a cultural twist that doesn’t quite match the energy of their seven-track, eleven-minute disc.

The record kicks off with a cover of Doom’s “Lust for Power.” Honestly, starting your album with a cover feels like a questionable choice, why not show us what you’re made of first? One track is in Russian, which adds a cool local touch, but the rest of the lyrics are in English, marred by a rough accent and clumsy phrasing that undermine their impact. The vocals are a mix of low, gruff growls and a second voice that’s less a scream and more like a dying dog. It’s grating in the worst way imaginable.

Then there’s the lyrical content. One song takes aim at what they call the “aggressive propaganda of homosexuality.” It’s hard to tell if this is genuine homophobia or a failed critique of political correctness, but either way, it lands flat and extremely stupid. Pair that with a laughably bad album title, and the whole thing leaves a really bad feeling.

Despite their apparent influences, Pan Zlobek miss the mark on delivering the power and fury of their heroes. This one’s not worth a second listen.