State Terror – Untitled EP
State Terror’s Untitled EP delivers relentless crustgrind with raw intensity, unpredictable riffs, and a powerful call for insurrection.
After a series of splits, EPs, compilation appearances, and their excellent 2022 debut No Present, No Future…, the crustgrind duo State Terror from Madrid, Spain, have steadily gained recognition, both locally and internationally. Known for their straightforward yet fresh, crust-laden noise, they’ve built a reputation through relentless gigging and a steady release schedule.
This year, they return with their newest untitled EP, delivering nine tracks of unhinged grindcore savagery with improved production and their signature nihilistic, anarchist lyrics. The music follows logically from their split with Chile’s Misa Histerica and debut album, but the production is noticeably cleaner and more concise, giving the EP a tighter, more cohesive feel.
Compositionally, there’s clear progress. The guitar work, already praised for its unpredictability and intensity, is even sharper here, with more varied structures and a rawer, edgier tone. The EP is packed to the rafters with blistering grindcore riffs, unpredictable tempo changes, slower powerviolence moments, and crustcore influences that sound authentically old-school but never stale.
The drumming is exceptional, shifting seamlessly between blastbeats, d-beats, and groovier sections, maintaining a relentless pace throughout. State Terror clearly upped the ante on this EP, proving they can only improve from here. Despite being veterans of Madrid’s extreme scene, State Terror maintain an air of anonymity, preferring their music to speak for their insurrectionary, anti-state/anti-capitalist message. Their always-striking artwork complements this, depicting a group of disturbed prisoners or psychiatric patients—slaves of the system, perfectly encapsulating their call for the destruction of the state and its oppressive institutions. ALWAYS STRIKE FIRST!
As with their previous work, the lyrics express fierce indignation toward societal and systemic brainwashing. Despite the EP’s nihilistic tone, the final track, “El fuego lo juzgará todo” (Fire Will Decide It All), carries a veiled promise of insurrection.
Evoking classic acts like Destroy!, IRF, Warsore, and Denak, State Terror is at the forefront of the Spanish crust/grind resurgence. They represent everything a self-respecting antifascist grindcore band should be, and are one of the most worthy acts on the scene today. Don’t hesitate to check them out on Bandcamp or Facebook and grab merch and physical copies as soon as they become available. NOISE IS PROTEST Ⓐ
