Stripped of the self-righteous nature that usually contaminates too many raw-punk charged modern bands, Oakland's Membrane brings a ferocious mix of d-beat, stompy hardcore enveloped in a wall of distortion. Membrane makes D-Beat more fun and catchier than it's been in a long time. Some tracks shine through with a general Disclose feel while a couple of their tunes break that formula by daring to rock the fuck out. Those songs highlight the faster ones to create a sense of completeness that few new raw punk EP's manage to capture. Membrane might remind you of many other bands, while still remaining excitingly different. No matter if you're into Fight Back era Discharge, GAI or The Headcleaners, there is something here for you. Our take: Debut vinyl from this Oakland hardcore band on the Norweigan label Byllepest. Stylistically, Membrane reminds me of the Invasión / Destino Final school of hardcore, influenced by Discharge and Disclose (the recording here is particularly Disclose-esque), but without the mannered attention to stylistic detail of a clone / worship band. This EP isn’t the rawest, the fastest, or the catchiest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s a solid slab of noisy, fist-pumping hardcore.
