Review: “Junkfood Patriotism” by Must Not Kill

It’s been four years since “Feed Me Violence“, the last recorded confession from Tampa Florida Crossover Thrash Merchants Must Not Kill. The vision of former All Out War and Fear Within guitarist Brad Mader hasn’t wavered over nearly two decades of destruction, however a revolving door of musicians has kept him on his toes. Here he’s joined once again by bassist Aaron Hollingsworth and vocalist Tom Selton, the only change from their last record the addition of drummer Will James…

Taking a leaf from the book of 90’s Hardcore, “Incision” opens the floor to two steppers delight with 45 seconds of mid tempo chug, a call to the Mosh Pit for those who known that “Dissection” is on the way. The band literally go from Driving Miss Daisy to Days of Thunder is 0.5 seconds, taking a death defying leap into the asphalt with some breakneck Crossover Thrash riffs with a seasoning of Hardcore Punk and Death Metal style vocals from Selton. The rose tinted spectacles are firmly in place for another piece of nostalgic fun in “The End“, which lights the fuse and tosses the dynamite stick into the distance without giving a flying f*** about what happens. The whammy bar drop solo is an absolute killer before the staccato riff breaks deliver a frenzied satisfying crunch. If only Anthrax made cuts like this. A funky bassline from Hollingsworth accompanied by a more complex riff from Mader ensure “The Proud Noise” slaps hard, reaching into the void to Death Metal territory but not quite touching it with the finger tips. A head bangers delight, its a tornado of percussive battery and platter of riffs that everyone can enjoy. Politically and socially aware “Junk Food Patriotism” combines early Prong style riffs with the groove of Pantera while Shelton cathartically vents his spleen, the face melting old school solo sheer class as. You simply can’t fail to have fun with this record, it’s the gift that keeps giving and Shelton’s bowel clenching death growls before a sample crack a smile. That vibe flows into “Mass Hysteria“, which once again has a bassline that allows the guitars to ride the groove while having a sinister urge of an edge, the gang chanted song title a scream-a-long moment that will go down like a pint of the finest live. A raging inferno “Burn All The Flags“, increases the tempo and intensity to ensure the record finishes on its finest moment. Lyrically scathing and vocally scalding Shelton puts the World to rights and holds the US Government to account for their wrongs in an onslaught that is so thinly veiled it leaves nothing to the imagination. [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Incision / Dissection
2. The End
3. The Proud Noise
4. Junk Food Patriotism
5. Mass Hysteria
6. Burn All The Flags

“Junkfood Patriotism” by Must Not Kill is out 31st May 2023 via Junkfood Jams