“Enemies of progress, the worst of times.“
At the turn of 2023, Power Failure put forward their debut EP, Hunger Stones. It was a a clash of hardcore, which channelled a punk attitude of bygone decades, with the ferocity and riffs of powerviolence. Between playing a litany of shows alongside the likes of Clobber and Perp Walk, the Essex unit have been crafting their follow up to their debut EP. It’s material that will have likely been thoroughly road-tested, blasted through the ears of those who have seen them in a live setting.
The blast beats and violent riffs kick off Master System on “preoccupied”, with the harsh and barked vocals make their distinct presence. A sample from the Chernobyl series is the precursor to the record’s opening breakdown, which is something that comes as a nice yet unexpected surprise. The pummelling and bruising breakdown is a war cry to open Master System and should see, if not already, “preoccupied” be a staple of Power Failure’s live set.
In a fashion that Going Off have touched on, Power Failure throw in sixteen second “carcinogen”. It briefly acts as a bridge of blast beats and traded screams between the opener and “patriot games”. It’s here where one of the messages of anti-nationalism comes to the forefront of Master System. Taking a wry look at it, akin to The Streets on “The Irony Of It All”, through lines such as “Legend in your own lunchtimes, see yourself on the frontline, defend the realm as a pastime”, before descending into scorn in “Noxious, nationalistic compulsion. Reap fear and destitution, I don’t need you to fight for me!”.
Anti-police and establishment messages lead “Fair Cop” and “Public Interest”. Lyrics “What do you see? Fair cop!” and “Their house of cards, your house in flames” will see a few mic grabs at shows. The vehemently delivery of the message at hand in each song is fitting for the times, the sheer rage and despair that many do feel. The rough and industrial production adds the extra grittiness to Master System, giving each crash and riff a certain brutal force that marks onto the memory.
Across the eight minutes of Master System’s runtime there is a sense that Power Failure have put thought and time into this record. Whether it be lyrics that touch on societal and political issues, without straying into on-the-nose territory, or their work to craft a fitting sound for that message with their industrial production and brutal sound. Exiting Master System, it’s difficult not to be impressed, and hopefully there will be more to come from Power Failure sooner rather than later.
7.5/10
Master System is set to release 6th September via Then And Now , and will be available for pre-order here.