For a name, so inviting and cordial, Japan's Friendship is anything but. The mysterious powerviolence group has the tenderness of a feral dog. Gnashing tooth and mangled claw take the form of blistering riffs and dissonant sludge. The Chiba prefecture collective will be releasing their new, full-length album this month. Entitled I&II, the 12-song onslaught is a frightening showcase of extreme metal. Much like the guillotine that graces the album's artwork, "Slaughterhouse" carries the intention of a swift kill. Today's premiere barely breaks a minute long and embodies a sudden death. Commanding vocals bark over harsh feedback and frenetic drums that dovetail a rhythmic groove. A lot happens in 77 seconds, there is no time to settle into Friendship's menace. Brace yourselves.
I&II will be released on February 17 through Sentient Ruin Laboratories. Preorders for the album can be found on Bandcamp or through the label's official website. More can be learned about Friendship here. There, links to their social media can be found.
