Buildings / Volunteer – Split

Minneapolis’ Buildings and Milwaukee’s Volunteer have both been hard at work in their respective cities, each crafting their own distinct brand of dissonance over the course of the last few years. This release brings the two geographically disparate bands together for hell raising six track EP, each band has contributed three tracks to this Split EP that was released at the tail end of last month via Triple Eye Industries.

First up on this EP are Buildings, this is their first release since last years Life Doesn’t Matter EP and their contribution to this release continues in their fine tradition of genre defying brutal noise. Opening track Something Better is a brief slice of discordant alt rock, it’s a fine warning shot that just makes this Split hit the ground running with it’s brutal pounding beat and abrasive guitar riffs, the next two tracks are almost the equal of it and the first three rounds of this EP have all hit the mark. Buildings could fall under almost banner you try to describe them with, punk, noise rock, post hardcore and alt rock would all be appropriate, but somehow fall short of capturing their essence.

The second half of this Split opens in an even more aggressive fashion, Volunteer make an intense and heavy assault on the senses, if Buildings were the opening burst of shock and awe then Volunteer are the tank that crashes into your living room. They are angry, loud and heavy, very heavy. The guitars are pulverising distorted numbers that don’t relent until the final cymbal has faded away the end of the final track. This is their first release since 2014’s Goner EP and it sounds like they’ve been building their rage over the last two years, and have unleashed it all in the twelve minutes that their three songs occupy on this Split.

Both bands compliment each other perfectly and you couldn’t ask for a more perfectly dysfunctional match up. Unlike many of the Split EP’s I’ve encountered where the bands are at odds with each other, this is one where the bands compliment each others natural aggression and noisy style perfectly. If you’re a fan of either band, or just of noisy brutal alternative music, then this is a release that belongs in your collection, whilst I have a slight preference for Buildings contribution it is exactly that, slight, and this EP showcases two bands that I look forward to hearing a lot more of.

You can order a copy of the Buildings / Volunteer Split EP here