Mastiff are undoubtedly the grimy diamond in the UK’s metal and hardcore crown. They’ve been peddling their filthy wares for over a decade, releasing four albums, two EPs and playing in every sweatbox of a venue that will let them through the door. Their live shows are a force of nature, and if present you can’t help but be gleefully pulled into their frenzied tornado of gloom and despair. For all the Dead Dreams arrives 18 months after their well-received full length, Deprecipice (2024), and fans of the band will not be disappointed with the devastation these five new tracks deliver. Unlike other bands, Mastiff haven’t used the EP format to do something left-field, or experiment with their sound. You certainly won’t find any melodic vocals or string sections here, and I think we can all say a collective “thank fuck for that!”. This is Mastiff distilled and boiled down to their essence…and it is ugly.
There is a distinct hardcore influence on these new tracks, with the band clearly wanting to cause as much aural damage as is humanly possible in the 15-minute run time. Hardcore is something that has always been in the Mastiff armoury (along with sludge and a smattering of doom in their earlier days) with Deprecipice’s unrelenting attitude laying the foundations for what we find here. The two singles, “Decimated Graves” and “A Story Behind Every Light”, showcase a wonderful concoction of Stampin’ Ground brutality and All Pigs Must Die ferocity. Second track "Rotting Blossoms" is an unhinged galloping juggernaut of a song, reminiscent of bands like Trap Them and Black Breath. Whereas final track "Corporeal" takes pleasure in throwing huge angular riffs at your head that Nails or Harms Way would be proud of. In amongst the earth crumbling riffage, thunderous beatdowns and deafening bass lines you’ll find plenty of hooks and dramatic breaths to catch your attention and pull you further into the mire.
Jim Hodge has some of the nastiest vocals in the business and they have never sounded so abrasive or foreboding as they do here. His lyrics aren’t pulling any punches either, with opening track “Soliloquy” featuring the depraved sing-along chorus (if that’s what you can call it) of “Bury me in a shit-filled grave!”. It certainly paints a vivid picture, and one that is entirely fitting for the sounds being created around it. You’ll also find some social/political themes on offer and with the state of the world right now, that is hardly surprising. "Decimated Graves" features the haunting lyrics "Stealing the land, for profits off arms, lining your nest, with corpses of kids", which feels even more pertinent against the backdrop of certain Western leaders being lauded as peacekeepers when they've also supplying the bombs and bullets.
In case it wasn’t obvious, I have a soft spot for these five gents from Kingston Upon Hull—not just because of the gloriously sickening music they create, but they’re also just down-to-earth guys who genuinely appear to love what they do. The fact this EP is coming out on Church Road Records (the excellent UK based label which I’ve wittered on about many times before), feels like a just reward for the band’s long service and perseverance, which hopefully means even more people will get to hear For all the Dead Dreams, because it's one of the best things that Mastiff have done.