small mercies

Where EP is short for ‘Epic Potential’

ALICE COOPER The Breadcrumbs EP EARMUSIC

This limited edition, 10-inch EP features a mix of covers and originals, as Cooper taps local Detroit heroes such as the MC5’S Wayne Kramer to celebrate his garage-rock roots. Though unusually funky for Alice, they’re a lotta fun. ■■■■■■■■■■

DAVE LING

MORDIAN Romance in Disguise SELF-RELEASED

This debut from chanteuse Mordian offers up five tracks bursting with orchestra-laden grandeur and soaring vocals. Closer

Ninth Life offsets the EP’S penchant for emotive fragility with its smattering of symphonic thunder. ■■■■■■■■■■

SOPHIE MAUGHAN

NESHIIMA Green SELF-RELEASED

A contagious teaser for what these unpredictable Glaswegians can master,

Green is doused in hardcore temperament, pumped with a dose of old-school hip hop, loaded with glittering solos and electronic sass. ■■■■■■■■■■

ALI COOPER

EYE FLYS Context THRILL JOCKEY

Full Of Hell guitarist Spencer Hazard and members of Backslider Triac join forces here for six tracks of hardcore sludge whose abrasive yet stoic, jagged might recalls Melvins, Flipper and Black Flag. ■■■■■■■■■■ JOSEPH STANNARD

MUNICIPAL WASTE The Last Rager NUCLEAR BLAST

These Virginia thrashers are back with four new injections of crossover mayhem. It’s only 10 minutes long but it’s stuffed with riffs and will induce over-zealous headbanging in everyone who listens.

Job done, then. ■■■■■■■■■■

ELLIOT LEAVER

VULTURES Hunger SELF-RELEASED

Somewhere between the technical maelstrom of Converge and the concreteblock-dropped-on-yourhead power of Terror sit Vultures. This is visceral, terrifying hardcore, full of spite and urgency, and bodes well for the future. ■■■■■■■■■■

STEPHEN HILL