Review: “If You’re Not Fucking Angry…” by Bags of Blood

It seems that Bags of Blood have mastered the art of the sucker punch, unleashing their debut EP “If You’re Not Fucking Angry Then You Haven’t Been Paying Attention” upon an unsuspecting World on April Fools day without any form of advanced warning. No campaign trail. No social media. No advanced listen. No evidence of existence. Just sudden impact. Details on those who have committed this crime against humanity remain strictly limited and on a need to know basis… but what we can say with certainty is that their vocalist has been identified as the legendary Paul Catten of Medulla Nocte and Murder One fame.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Matthew K. Grundy (Dead in the Woods, Burial Røt, The Blueprint) and adorned by artwork from Alex CF (Halo of Teeth, Negative Voice, Upon a Field’s Whisper) the three track affair begins with “Legacy Of Shit“, a song that lulls you into a false sense of security with a eerie almost Post Hardcore introduction that bursts into life with the force of a Molotov Cocktail. Anarchist Hardcore Punk is the name of the game as Bags of Blood play fast and loose as if recording live on the floor of the studio, unleashing all that pent up aggression in a ninety one second burst of audio violence. Catten’s vicious tirade is unmistakable, his bark just as violent as his bite as he seizes the opportunity to give us hell in politically charged and socially aware fashion. Surprise! You’re Dead!

The bedlam continues into “Time For Change” which has the air of insanity about it shrill screams and Death growls are met by the force of a whirlwind of percussive battery and rapid fire riffs. The blast beats and fleeting intricate leads do little to distract from the simple message, instead providing the metaphorical hammer to the vocal nail. Title track “If You’re Not Fucking Angry (You Haven’t Been Paying Attention)” continues the narrative in an adrenaline fuelled, let’s see who can play faster without fucking it up kind of way. The lyrics are message in a bottle but rather than one washed up on a beach somewhere, this one has been picked up off a table in a biker bar, smashed and has been left hanging from the guts of those on the receiving end of Catten’s barbed assault. Simple yet lethally effective. [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Legacy Of Shit
2. Time For Change
3. If You’re Not Fucking Angry (You Haven’t Been Paying Attention)

“If You’re Not Fucking Angry…” by Bags of Blood is out 1st April 2026 and is available over at bandcamp