Ottawa was a (very) short-lived Michigan hardcore act from the '90s. You might know their prior band, Current, a little better. Everyone from Current-a cool Dischord-style emo act-was in Ottawa, but Ottawa are a far different beast: This is super fast, crusty hardcore that's both ferocious and to-the-point. This self-titled LP is actually a reissue of their side of a 1994 split with Jihad (leaving out closing track "The Greatest Adventure", which is just a random archival recording, anyway).

Some typical nodes of powerviolence-y thrash seep into the record here and there, from "Pacification" to "The Onslaught of the Uruk-hai" (these dudes love The Lord of the Rings), somewhat foreshadowing acts like Charles Bronson or Surf Nazis Must Die. There's a brutal, almost metallic hardcore fierceness to other cuts like "Life Consumed" and "Their Ploy". Although, "Victim of Dedication" has more of a desperate, almost melodic bend to it.

When they aren't busy referencing J.R.R. Tolkien, the band's subject matter is socially conscious to the point of being predictably vicious: "Your conditioning-no excuse. Your bigotry-is foolishness. Your brutality-is unjustified. Homophobe-fuck off and die. Death to your fucking biblical morals. It is asinine to enforce gender roles." Just so you know where they stand.

While I probably prefer Current's more melodic, pained sound, this is worthwhile stuff as well.