Trash Talk is a hardcore punk band from Berkeley, California consisting of bassist Spencer Pollard, lead guitarist Garrett Stevenson, backup guitarist David Gagliardi, drummer Thomas Pridgen & frontman Lee Spielman. Dropping a total of 3 full-lengths & 3 extended plays between 2005-2011, it wasn’t until they began affiliating themselves with the now defunct Odd Future collective putting out their 4th album 119 on the same day as MellowHype’s 2nd & final album Numbers during my sophomore year when I caught wind of them. No Peace would become my 2nd favorite in their discography & I saw them open for Action Bronson a while after Tangle came out, locking in with Kenny Beats for their 5th EP.
“Point No Point” opens up with this 55 second hardcore punk intro screaming that he doesn’t want or need anyone whereas “Something Wicked” retains a hardcore vibe to call out bootlickers for convincing themselves into total warfare. “Worst of Times” gives a middle finger to time if it’s prevalent for any of us & no longer feeding the apathy within but once “Clutch (Any Means Necessary)” talks about always peaking their demands, “Kicking & Screaming” ends the EP suggesting the day won′t quickly forget even when it’s outside your door.
Tangle was mere ok in my opinion, so to see Kenny Beats handling the hardcore punk production with some chopped & screwed undertones throughout the duration of Squalor’s 8 & a half minute runtime definitely had me curious since he produced the FM! EP for former Odd Future affiliate Vince Staples & it’s definitely the most enjoyable EP of the 2 they’ve dropped since OF dissolved. It’s more intense than the predecessor even if it’s a few minutes shorter & the experimentation was really cool to me.
Score: 4/5
