Are you feeling violently nihilistic? Are you depressed by the amount of effort most modern punk bands put into their music? Do you miss the good ol' days when punks were allowed to hate everyone and not give two shits about anything? Has it been too long since you last heard true misanthropic hatred on a recording? Well then, have I got a band for you.

Coming straight out of the depressing wasteland that is Western Mass., SQRM has taken the entire state by storm, playing any and every gig they can get their hands on. On their first non-demo release, the band delivers three venomous anthems that document the true anti-social rage stored up inside lead singer/lyricist Tony and the rest of the band. And boy, are they filled with it. On the opening track ("Succubus") Tony belts out "Leave me here / Let me sit here / I don't know you / And you sure as fuck don't know me" with such emotion that it's almost impossible not to feel as pissed as he must be. An aptly out-of-tune guitar is the only melodious instrument accompanying the vocals. Or perhaps it's a satisfyingly unmelodious instrument. I don't know. It's so incredibly out of tune that the phrase "it must be hard not to care this much" comes to mind. I guess, if you really need a comparison, they sound a little bit like Jesus Lizard, U.S Maple or Flipper, but it's such a wacky amalgamation/stripping-down of those bands that it's hard to say they sound like them with a straight face. Additionally, SQRM is not afraid of using speed in certain places, unlike most of those bands.

The cassette climaxes with the title song, which is a three-minute-long exegesis of sexual politics in the post-9/11 era. Here's a lyrical example: "I see you standing over there / you say you want to smell my skin / I just got one question for ya / Can I come inside?" And when the chorus (simply "Fuck me" 2-4x) is sung, it's belted in such a way that you have to wonder whether it's a sincere request for intercourse or a statement of extreme self-loathing. The song is slow and chugging, with a staggering drumbeat that leaves the perfect amount of room for the lyrics to be delivered with their intended effect. If you're not ready to punch poodles in the teeth after hearing this song, I'm not sure that you're capable of feeling anger at all.

Of course, the only complaint is the length. I guess three songs in six-ish minutes is decent for a Youth Attack! band, but I'm so ready for more. Keep a close watch on these guys; they are one of the best things to come out of this noisy hardcore revival that seems to be centered around YA and Clean Plate Records.