Loud and noisy, angry as hell, Black Elk have created a work of furious mid-paced intensity. Anguished and maniacal vocals at times remind of Flag-era Rollins, at others of at-his-most-vehement early Husker-Du’s Mould. Detailed guitar work is content to just know that it’s detailed and allow itself to be enveloped in layers of fuzz and noise. Poetically subversive lyrics are always contrary, never childish, challenging the status quo and admonishing those to weak to think for themselves.

“Toss You to the Wolves” sounds almost Fugazi-esque and could easily have existed as the most intense and blissfully nasty listing in the Dischord Records catalog. Elsewhere, “Elk Takes Night” punishes with earnestness, vitriolic in it’s condemnation of conformists, and “Who Knew?” mesmerizing and haunting, grooves it’s uneasy way into the brain while attempting to uncover the root cause of this country’s school shooting predicament. Although certainly not for every taste, Black Elk will be an exciting discovery for fans of bands like Eyehategod, and all those open to ugly, angry, and at times nihilistic punk and metal.