Review: “Off the Leash” by Mongrel (3rd Anniversary)

Having been by their own admission baptized in the gutter San Diego, Californian Death Metal and Hardcore merchants Mongrel rose to prominence in 2022 with a demo musing on themes of anger, violence and inner struggles called “Off The Leash“. Mixed and mastered by Dan Swano (Insomnium, Maceration, Dark Funeral) that record unites bassist Andy Kukta (Poison Headache, ex-Internal Affairs), drummer Ryan Brooks (ex-World of Pain), vocalist Conor Drury (ex-Gutter, ex-World of Pain) and guitarists Mike Salazar (Mizery, ex-Xibalba) and Tristan Huarte because as we all know, misery loves company.

Let off the leash like an apex predator in a prison yard, Mongrel open up the arteries with “Dog Complex“. Classic 80’s Hardcore influences in cuts like “Punishment” by Biohazard are observed as the five piece tear through razor sharp Metallic riffs and the kind of chord progressions that are the push that makes you want to move. The aggression levels are kept purposefully high so you can feel the burning behind the eyes of Drury as he spits his venom, the knuckle duster on his hand poised to inflict the damage as the red mist descends. You can not only hear it but feel it and that continues into the sonic abrasions of “Faustian“, introduced by quote from Charles Dance as Benedict in 1993’s Last Action Hero: “If God was a villain, he’d be me!”. A fierce vocal performance laced with grit and integrity is the counter balance for crushing riffs and if you don’t want to beat the living daylights out of your enemies down a dark alley with a baseball bat after listening to this, then you need to see a doctor. Throwing a log on the fire to increase the intensity of the flame “Off the Leash” introduces the blood and thunder of blast beats as the five piece play with tempo and texture as they cut their way through the urban jungle. A rhythmic pummelling of supreme power, this is as much fun as you can have in a mosh pit without losing a tooth [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Dog Complex
2. Faustian
3. Off the Leash

“Off the Leash” by Mongrel was released on 10th March 2022 and is available over at bandcamp.