Review: “Unsolicited Indoctrination” by Korrupto

Hailing from deepest, darkest Oxfordshire and the backwoods of Wiltshire are Korrupto, a three piece feature who specialise in an intoxicating blend of Death Metal and Grindcore. In their ranks are members of Faith and Hate, Black Skies Burn, Public Execution, Of Corpse and Seidrblot to name but a few, those prior convictions the bombing that precedes a ground offensive as troops enter a war zone. Joining forces in 2020, vocalist and guitarist Carlos “Visy Bloodaxe” Murillo, bassist and vocalist Simon “Worm” Manion and drummer Steve Butler unleashed their debut “Chop the Cop” in 2023. Returning a year later they returned with “Unsolicited Indoctrination“, once again recorded and mixed by Steve “Geezer” Watkins (Desert Storm, Indica Blues, Pain Control) at Wormwood Studios but this time wrapped in artwork from Michael Pentalengro. Described as being “born out of band life and world events” the question is… can they maintain their anti-establishment noise levels in perpetual forward motion?

Back in 1998 covers of “Ain’t No Feeble Bastard” and “The Possibility of Life’s Destruction” by Discharge appeared on the self titled debut record from Max Cavalera’s then new band Soulfly. Before you wonder where exactly we’re going with this, its the attitude of those hell for leather Death Metal fuelled Hardcore Punk renditions that immediately spring to mind when listening to the anti-establishment Death Grind of Korrupto as they tear their way through this record. As the American pledge of allegiance plays out in introduction to title track “Unsolicited Indoctrination” you’re waiting for the gut punch in the knowledge of the bands anti-establishment ways and it comes with “f*** off!” and death by a thousand blast beats. A whirlwind of old school riffs and death growls follow as the three piece show flagrant disregard for our ear canals, the faint smell of napalm the only sign of their existence once the 105 second tirade is over. Just as raw and primitive “Victim by Choice” then bludgeons the discerning listener to death like a blunt instrument to the skull, Steve Butler’s metronomic and yet restless and relentless drumming only slowing momentarily for an off kilter guitar solo. The death growled title (or perhaps chorus) is one that will be screamed along to live should the band command it because fans just won’t be able to help themselves. There is nothing quite like a bit of anti-Nazi rhetoric when it comes to anything even vaguely Punk and “Pest Control” gives bassist  Simon “Worm” Manion the chance to shine. His groove laden underpinning to the violence give it a real bounce as the guitars swirl, the earworm nature of the beast one that means once its inside your head, it’s going absolutely nowhere.

After that moment of relative melody about killing Nazis comes the violent delight of the brutal “Taught Me Nothing“. A scalding 90 second affair which makes great use of vocal layering so you get a shriller backing vocal from Manion to contrast the bark of Murillo, it finds the band reaching Carcass levels of destruction yet creating something remarkably catchy. The savage “When We Smoke” then takes the sonic abrasions to captivating new heights of depravity as it moves from the infectious first half to the brutal overdrive of the second. Deliberately avoiding the obvious opportunity to play low and slow perhaps goes against the grain of thought but thoroughly in keeping with what Korrupto do, the twist in the tale of this one cuts you like a butchers knife. A cover of “Absence of War” by Nausea is an obvious choice but perfectly executed in Korrupto style with a cheeky little bass solo and a hell for leather finale. While it doesn’t sound like a demo as such, it still sounds purposefully rough and ready thanks to a nasty guitar tone and the work of Watkins behind the boards. That deserves a lot of credit because the balance here is ultimately key to making it work, if its over polished it would sound hideous and if it were left to fester then the question would be why are they paying for studio time? Refusing to slow down even for a second “Taxi Roller” isn’t so much a final nail in the coffin but a drill to the head in an act of trephination. Butler’s jackhammer footwork and the rumbling bass of Mansion provides the backbone as the fearsome roars of Murillo decimate the weak and thin the herd. You’ve heard the phrase going out with a bang but this takes the cake [8/10]

1. Unsolicited Indoctrination
2. Victim by Choice
3. Pest Control
4. Taught Me Nothing
5. When We Smoke
6. Absence of War (Nausea cover)
7. Taxi Roller

“Unsolicited Indoctrination” by Korrupto is out 4th December 2024 and is available over at bandcamp