One of the funny byproducts of writing music reviews is learning about parts of the world that I’d maybe overlook otherwise. In reading about NEGATIVE CHARGE, who hail from Winnipeg, I realized I knew next to nothing about the area. In the time between being assigned this review and putting pen to paper, I’ve become aware of the fact that the beloved children’s character Winnie the Pooh was named after Winnipeg, and that the city had a strange affinity for one of my favorite cult classics, Phantom of the Paradise, a film that otherwise didn’t do so hot at the box office nearly anywhere else. Aside from those gems, I learned about their deep-rooted punk scene that has been forged in snow and ice over time to produce a slew of bands I was unfamiliar with that are total rippers, including standouts NUCLEAR MAN, HUMAN TARGET, and JUG. Another among them (and I think including some shared members of the aforementioned) is NEGATIVE CHARGE, whose debut self-titled LP is a lean and mean masterclass in hardcore. Following in the footsteps of bands like POISON IDEA and AGNOSTIC FRONT, everything here is just right; the guitars are muscular, the drums pound and pummel, and the vocals are gruff and tough as nails. The breakdowns are heavy and the guitar leads wail, all surrounded by riffs that sound instantly recognizable. “Shut Me Off” and “Decay” are particularly great, the former boasting some off-the-wall drumming and the latter seeing the vocals reduced to a gnarly snarl. I could go on, but this album speaks for itself. Don’t sleep on NEGATIVE CHARGE, and don’t sleep on Winnipeg. Highly recommended, and a top ten of 2025, for sure. - MAXIMUMROCKNROLL
