Review: “V” by L.M.I.

Having spent the past decade and a half making us rethink what Hardcore Punk can twist, contort and morph into Lansdale Pennsylvania’s L.M.I. (standing for “Lazy Middle-Class Intellectuals“) created a critically acclaimed album in 2024’s “Failed To Feel It“. Back then their award winning formula found them incorporating elements of heavy Post-Hardcore, Sludge and Post-Metal with discordant melodies, scalding harsh vocals and pummelling rhythms to create a sound that some have called Converge like Hardcore. It may come as no surprise then that they returned to the person who helped them make that record sound the way it does for “V“. Recorded at Headroom Studios with producer by Justin Nazario (Sublation, Return To Zion, Teethcutter) who later mixed and mastered at Sound Splitter Studios, this new record offers five more cuts from the same cloth.

They say that it pays to expect the unexpected but a soul stirring blues inspired almost Country style riff from Will Hinkle might well be the last thing you’d expect to introduce an L.M.I. record. That forty seconds or so at the start of opening cut “Feelin’ Tired” is like the ultimate palate cleanser, just long enough to lull you into a false sense of security while keeping you on the edge of you seat. The southern twang is as irresistible as any Spaghetti Western theme music and just when you think you’ve been zapped into the wrong record… the hit you full in the face with a sucker punch. Ripping guttural vocals, galloping drums and Hardcore Punk riffs creating a tornado of souls that tears through the town taking every single tile off every single roof. Transitioning into a delicate melody with a female spoken word seems impossible but the band pull it off like magicians before cutting back to a final onslaught that’s utterly savage. It’s all so intense that the first time you hear it the track might leave you in a daze, wondering how they’ve managed to create something of such depth and texture with their seemingly limited resources.  

While you’re thinking about that, a few moments of programming at the start of “Wings Of Misery” throws the baby out with the bath water before racing into a Full Of Hell inspired Power Violence meets Hardcore Punk sound that feels like being maced. Fast and loose guitars meet blast beats and rumbling bass as everything flies along at a hundred miles an hour, the trio introducing that sense of chaotic unpredictability that will have even the hardest of Metal heads cracking a smile. A quote from 1982’s Conan the Barbarian then set the tone for “Strangling A Broken Dream“, the cavernous vocals and racing instrumentation taking us to the world of The Fall Of Troy. A fearfully addictive cut, this one will is a risk to listen to in public spaces as it will have you screaming “strangling” along with Hinkle on the very first spin, his blood curdling harsh tones those of a beast from the black depths.

“Living Fear” continues the flow of the lava river into a sea of obsidian with more earworm riffs and demonic vocals, the contrast between the styles within the bands sound working incredibly well when on paper they should sound like train wreck. Just when you think you’ve heard it all the sun blushed 1970’s inspired melody of “Fever Dream In A Golden Cage” appears before disappearing into a blood curdling scream, repeating the trick of the opening track. Once again the trio descend into chaotic sounds as they writhe in the pit of despair, the level discordant riffs rip and tear at the cerebral cortex. Joyful bedlam for those with a sick sense of humour, this record is far more intelligent than anyone will give it credit for [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Feelin’ Tired
2. Wings Of Misery
3. Strangling A Broken Dream
4. Living Fear
5. Fever Dream In A Golden Cage

“V” by L.M.I. is out 19th June 2026 via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions and is available over at bandcamp