Location: California
Country: USA
Genre: Mincecore
Full length: Destination Extinction
Format: Digital album, CD, cassette, limited edition vinyl (crystal clear – 50 copies, liquid filled vinyl – 100 copies Tankcrimes Bandcamp exclusive, beach barf splatter – 200 copies, sunset splat – 25 copies, electric blue – retail exclusive available at record stores worldwide upon street date)
Label: Tankcrimes
Release date: June 20, 2025
In the 80s, a band called Agathocles (Belgium) founded mincecore in response to calls for grindcore to become more aggressive and violent. They took their tunes in a different path by leaning more toward punk's impact on grind while sustaining grind’s blast and frenetic vocals.
I wouldn’t characterize goregrind, pornogrind, or similar subgenres as sexist; I’ve always viewed them in terms of shock value. Still, I understand the reasons Agathocles and Haggis took the opposite position when it came to lyrical content and stuck with punk’s roots when it came to songwriting. These are hardly the first bands to forego shock value in favor of tackling important societal concerns that should be addressed.
To balance their goregrind aspects, California’s Haggus further explores this approach to extreme music by referencing punk and crust punk. Inspired heavily by Agathocles, they have a strong DIY work ethic, and openly criticize misogyny and homophobia. Given the current political situation in the U.S., this is a risky stance in and of itself. Because people appear to be more readily offended, cancel culture appears to be at an all-time high. This said, it’s highly probable that groups such as Haggus will cause a commotion.
While Agathocles has an extensive discography, since 2014 Haggus has consistently released demos, EPs, splits, compilation appearances, and full lengths. In 2025 they’re pushing their most recent album “Destination Extinction” with equal vigor, having produced four promotional videos and released the album and merchandise through Tankcrimes. As blunt as the music is radical and intemperate, the lyrics are acerbic portrayals of life as seen by those at the bottom, looking up and seeing the corruption above.
From “Rotting Off” to “Malignant Boomer”, each line is a sharpened blade that pierces deeply, slicing, slashing, and piercing, making sure you experience the anguish and suffering the lyrics are trying to portray. There's no sugarcoating or whitewashing of the ideas the band puts into words; reading while listening is almost painful since they’re so incisive and brutally honest.
With music deeply steeped in hardcore and grindcore pioneers like Napalm Death, Discharge, Repulsion, and Lärm, “Destination Extinction” builds on what made 1980s underground music classic, amplifying the messages punk and hardcore bands delivered to us at the time, forcing you to think more deeply about corporate greed, the food industry, the erosion of the middle class, media spin, and other issues. The world is always changing and this album is a massive push further in that direction. –Dave Wolff
Lineup:
Hambone: Strinx, Spew & Decomposition
Mister Brisket: Stranx & Splat
The Slamburglar: Percussive Purulence
Track list:
1. Rotting Off
2. Bound By Realms Of Cruelty
3. What's Fucking Left?
4. Lobotomized Compliance
5. Do You Love Mincecore?
6. Repulsive Institution
7. Crippled By Stupidity
8. As The Hammer Drops
9. Malignant Boomer
10. Grotesque Reflection
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