As described by Maximumrocknroll, Meanstreet and the OC Weekly, EXFORK was one of the most underrated bands in its genre. Mixing punk, noise and metal, these Southern California natives created a pummeling sound that numbed the senses.
On this long-awaited 10" (originally to be released by Coolguy Records), EXFORK teamed up with punk/metal producer Billy Anderson (producer to the likes of Neurosis, Melvins, Jawbreaker, Logical Nonsense, Mr. Bungle, Ratos De Porao, Sick of It All and Unsane, to name a select few) to record the band's finest session. This record is a tribute to the California underground and a must for anyone who is a fan of this type of sound.
As one reviewer put it, "their music is fast, tight, screamy, and intricate, yet not pretending to be Slayer like every other hardcore band and their mothers." Now THAT'S a compliment.
With their raw style of noise-core, EXFORK became a prominent force in the Los Angeles and San Francisco underground at the turn of the century.
Broke up a few years ago, but who's counting?
This band is featured on: "A Cure for the Disease Called Man" 10-inch
Heavy plummeting 'core with a darker edge. If not quite stretching any boundaries it's still serviceable to your needs. The left turns made on such tunes as "Broken Glass" promises good things ahead as well. Only 400 made.
--(David) SHREDDING PAPER, #18, Fall 2004
Damn this is really impressive. Dark, droning slow to mid-tempo hardcore that is more original than I can make it sound in a review. The best aspect of the music has to be the drums, which just happens to be played by Mike Felix of Toys That Kill. Highly recommended.
--(TK) PUNK PLANET, #62, July/August 2004
Totally dissonant power house monotonous grooves, the sort that you get super into or super bored by. More than likely though, if you like a heavy slightly droning style to nod your head to, then ExFork from So.Cal. will have you stoked. Combining elements the way MITB did years ago or that bands like Isis have done more recently - creating a soundscape of dissonant heavy riffs, some sometimes noisy tangents and sometimes totally rockin grooves. For the style they're playing, I'm into it - they don't get monotonous in a boring way and they don't get noisy in an irritating way. They draw on all these elements and maintain structure. Say noise core and I'm going the other direction, but these guys keep it interesting and having Billy Anderson involved not only gives potential fans a lead in, but also helps out for the sludge style no doubt. A head turner for sure.
--(Chris) SLUG & LETTUCE, #79 Spring 2004
This is noisy hardcore with borderline cookie monster vocals – but on the good side of that vocal border. It’s a perfect soundtrack for a fucked up day. Musically, the band is tight, tense, and always on the verge of an explosion. It’s not what I normally listen to, but I like it. I don’t know if this will help anyone, but ExFork sounds like how I hoped The Locust would sound like when I first heard about The Locust.
--(Sean) RAZORCAKE, Issue #19, April/May 2004
Dark, threatening hardcore with a real menacing atmosphere. This is intimidating stuff and that’s just my kinda style!! You a hardcore poser? Yeah, then fuck off because this will fuck you up. I can’t stand sporty hardcore shit...this is the side that we represent.
--NO FRONT TEETH UK webzine
Pummeling drums and crunchy distorted rhythms, noise-edged structures, scratchy throated and effected vocals, reminiscent to me of a much much more restrained Combat Wounded Veteran, or a more focused Bucketful of Teeth, or the Orchid or... The engineer was Billy Anderson, of Neurosis, Unsane, Melvins, etc. recording fame, known for some thick and heavy production. If any of the above groups you feel a kinship with, then Exfork would be up your alley, maybe drinking and smoking and making a bunch of noise, damned be the neighbors. The drummer of Toys That Kill drives their group's tempo, if you're keeping score.
--(WM) MAXIMUMROCKNROLL, Issue #251, April 2004
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