2 days ago
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Atlanta hardcore miscreants Criminal Instinct have been around for a decade and a half, but they don't release too much music, possibly because the band members are constantly getting into fights and getting thrown in jail. Actually, I don't think that's true, or at least that's not the only reason that Criminal Instinct don't release music too often. People in the band seem to be busy with other projects. For instance, drummer Josiah Hoeflinger, otherwise known as Skull, is the lead skinhead in Skinhead, whose It’s A Beautiful Day, What A Beautiful Day was one of last year's best hardcore albums. Also, it seems like Criminal Instinct keep breaking up and getting back together. But anyway, they're together now, and they have new music.
Criminal Instinct haven't released a full-length since 2019's Terrible Things — which, at 19 minutes, tests the definition of "full-length." Before today, they hadn't released any music at all since 2020, when they came out with the two-song single "Skull Fucked" b/w "6 More Miles." Today, however, Criminal Instinct return with Is It Raining At Your House?, a new EP that arrives today with, as far as I can tell, zero advance warning and no real hullabaloo.
It looks like Criminal Instinct's current lineup includes all-star producer Taylor Young, of Twitching Tongues and God's Hate and a million other bands, and Martin Stewart, of Terror and God's Hate and a million other bands, alongside longtime members Josiah Hoeflinger, Josh Long, Gian Farahani, and Kaleb Perdue (also of Abuse Of Power and Foundation). It's an all-star team! Is It Raining At Your House? blasts through five songs in nine minutes. The thing that always set Criminal Instinct apart is that they play fast, no-frills old-school hardcore with all the fuck-you-up swagger and intensity of today's heaviest bands. That comes through really cleanly on the new EP, which whomps a whole lot of ass. Hear it below.
The Is It Raining At Your House? EP is out now on Closed Casket Activities.
English (US) · 