Head Wound City

A prime example of a drunken idea that turned out to be a good one, Head Wound City is a noise-rock supergroup of sorts, featuring two members each from hypercore outfits The Locust and Blood Brothers, plus guitarist Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Recorded in a week, this seven-track EP is exactly nine minutes and 41 seconds long, effectively delivering the goods without overstaying its welcome. After an abrasive guitar-noise intro, the inhabitants of Head Wound City rip through six dense, precise, and frantic assault numbers that are initially jarring, but upon subsequent listens reveal themselves as complex and well-constructed. The lyrics for songs like "Prick Class" and "Thrash Zoo" are embossed on the liner notes and only readable when held at a certain angle, but it definitely helps to know what vocalist Jordan Blilie is screaming. Though fans of Blood Brothers and The Locust will almost certainly dig Head Wound City, there are probably some curious Yeah Yeah Yeahs aficionados out there who are going to find this wholly unpleasant. Look for their copies in the used bins soon.