Sokushinbutsu — Holy Ground Tape

Band: Sokushinbutsu
Title: Holy Ground
Label: Unholy Anarchy Records
Format: Extended Play (EP), Cassette Tape, Numbered, Single Sided
Country: Maryland, USA
Release Date: 2014
Genre / Style: Death Metal, Grindcore, Crust Punk
Streaming Link: Bandcamp

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Remarks: 
Limited copies housed in a screen-printed cloth bag with a grey cassette shell, includes 6-panel insert with lyrics.

Sokushinbutsu’s Holy Ground EP, released on 26 September 2013, in digital format, presents a raw and unrelenting foray into the realms of death-grind and crust punk. This five-track release clocks in at just over nine minutes, was then released in cassette tape formats by Unholy Anarchy Records in 2014.

The EP opens with "Penitence," a 1:44-minute track that sets the tone with its abrasive guitar riffs and relentless drumming. "Throne of Despondency" follows, maintaining the intensity with a succinct 1:18 runtime. "Nail Through the Immortal Hand" extends slightly longer at 2:13, showcasing the band's ability to blend chaotic rhythms with thematic depth. "Rot Dominance" and "Skorne" conclude the EP, the latter being the longest track at 2:50, offering a culmination of the EP's aggressive energy.

Throughout the EP, Sokushinbutsu employs a lo-fi production aesthetic that enhances the rawness of their sound. The instrumentation is tight and unyielding, with low-frequency distorted guitars and blast-beat drumming creating a wall of sound that is both oppressive and cathartic. Vocals are delivered with guttural low-growl ferocity, complementing the thematic darkness that permeates the EP.