death to the foes of the human race (2026) // sermon
ALBUMS★4.5/5
in the name of honest journalism, i have to admit a few of my biases right out the gate. my first exposure to this album wasn't on streaming , which is likely how most folks might listen through this album on their first go. in fact, my first two listens weren't digital at all. i got to hear this album played live at the waterloo band crawl in mid-may, and I can't tell you enough how much that adds to the experience of this music. every single member of this band has a captivating and unique stage presence that adds contextual madness to the already existential energy this album emits. whether its the guitarist staring blankly into the audience while sliding up and down the neck of their guitar with a beer bottle, to the bassist skillfully switching between the neck of his instrument and the play button on a cassette player, to the sheer power of two drummers on stage staring each other in rhythmic showdown. needless to say, sermon has captivated the waterloo region in its hypnotic thrall and i am more than willing to be hypnotized. in fact, after hearing these songs live, i purchased the album and listened through on cassette, which adds a whole other layer of texture, dimension and blur to the already hazy and intense sound. needless to say, my exposure to this music has certainly added a layer of awe and appreciation to this record (which you can purchase in LP form here!).
my second bias is that the members of sermon are dear friends of mine, and it is of course my privilege to help support them with this review. that said, i truly believe without a doubt that this band is one i'd support and see live over and over again, regardless of my personal connection to them.
post-hardcore is not typically a genre i listen to very much anymore, simply by nature of my own annoying pretension, and need to hear intricate interlacing of vocal technique and harmony (everybody booed). sermon, however, is able to subvert the expectation of the post-hardcore genre as just a wall of abrasive sound, by adding poly-rhythmic drum parts, complex compound time, driving and athletic bass parts, and guitar lines that borrow from funk and math rock. in short, the band has authored an album that, in perfect balance stimulates audiences seeking the adrenaline and bombasticness of a hardcore sound, as well as anyone seeking the nuance and stimulation of fusion or metal.
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