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Bitter Branches – “Basic Karate”
The re-emergence of Tim Miller, the famously intense frontman for the New Jersey hardcore/noise-rock architects Deadguy, is a moment that resonates with the deep-seated yearning for authentic, unvarnished sound in an era of over-produced musical comfort food. Deadguy’s initial run was a brilliant, incendiary flash in the mid-90s, a period where the rigid boundaries between hardcore, metal, and noise were being gleefully demolished.Their 1995 landmark album, 'Fixation on a Co-Worker,' wasn't just a collection of songs; it was a manifesto of controlled chaos, a dissonant symphony that influenced a generation of bands who learned that aggression could be as cerebral as it was physical. Their breakup at what felt like their creative peak left a void, a 'what could have been' that has haunted underground music circles for decades.The announcement of their reunion and the subsequent release of 'Near-Death Travel Services' earlier this year was therefore met with a mixture of ecstatic anticipation and nervous trepidation—could they possibly recapture that lightning-in-a-bottle intensity? The answer, as evidenced by the raw power they've maintained, appears to be a resounding yes. This isn't a nostalgia act cashing in on past glories; it's a reclamation of a narrative, a continuation of a conversation that was abruptly cut short.For long-time followers and vinyl collectors who have kept the flame alive, this is the equivalent of a lost chapter from a classic novel suddenly being discovered. The significance extends beyond Deadguy itself, speaking to a broader cultural moment where foundational, abrasive artists are being re-evaluated and celebrated not as relics, but as vital precursors to today's experimental punk and metal landscapes. It underscores a timeless truth in music: genuine, un-compromised artistic fury has a shelf life that far outlasts fleeting trends, and the return of Tim Miller to the forefront is a potent reminder that some voices, no matter how long silenced, are always waiting for the right moment to scream again.
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#Deadguy
#Tim Miller
#Bitter Branches
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#hardcore
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