Haggus – Destination Extinction
Release Date: 20th June 2025
Label: Tankcrimes
Bandcamp
Genre: Mincecore
FFO: Agathocles, ski masks, pitch shifters, general debauchery.
Review By: Paul Cairney
‘Right, what the fuck is Mincecore?’ my opening words to Bossman Dave when having a gander at the latest releases for review for Metal Epidemic!
Turns out, it is basically a sub-genre of Grindcore!
Anyone who knows me will tell you I love a genre (there are only 4), but Haggus piqued my interest with their 4th full length, Destination Extinction. To cut a long review short, this album is absolutely immense. It is, as expected, fast, it is furious, and it is heavier than bull’s balls moving into mating season!
There are riffs that pummel you – always – never does a riff merely cajole. No. Haggus want to teach you a lesson, one that you will never forget. The aggression in the songs is captivating. ‘Rotting Off’ provides you with ample warning that this is not an album to turn your back on. It is indescribably filthy, with a production that is both grimy, but perfect. The angular riff is punctuated with unearthly growls, grunts and screams that fills non-existent voids, supported by a bass that threatens you with harm. This is heavy!
Destination Extinction is the sound of a band that are fully aware that their ‘music’ is not meant for the masses. It is not meant for a large amount of Metalheads. Some will not have the capacity to grasp the aura Haggus want to provide. This is no criticism of the listener. I make an assumption here, but I suspect these Californian dudes are fully aware that their sound is not the most commercial, nor listener-friendly, to be released in 2025.
It is, however, a sublime piece of aggressive heaviness. An album that has utterly surprised me and prompted me to jump into their back-catalogue. It is also the best of said back catalogue, by a long margin.
There are aspects that surprise, riffs dropping to let the bass roll in the awesome, ‘What’s Fucking Left’, the almost restrained, ‘Do You Love Mincecore’ but, mostly, the fact that you do love mincecore, and you wonder where it has been all your life.
I urge you to check Haggus out. I urge you to fall in love with Destination Extinction. If you don’t, it doesn’t really matter, as it will only be 25 minutes or so out of your day.
(5 / 5)
