First emerging in April 2020, the Philadelphia-based punk unit Poison Ruin has just released a new addition to the Relapse Records roster; a full-length titled Harvest. While keeping the low-fidelity punk elements intact on this album (even considering the mastering process was handled by Arthur Rizk, who has previously done mastering for bands from notable record labels, such as Deathwish, Sub Pop Records, and Profound Lore Records), Poison Ruin manages to incorporate several elements from other genres and musical styles as well, such as touches of new wave and NWOBHM, as well as late seventies punk. The nuances appear to be as raw as the likes of Crass and Amebix, but this album also will remind its listeners of Hüsker Dü, or even Iceage. Harvest is an album that envisages fantasy tropes-laden tales, almost escapist, and perfectly depicts the themes of collective struggle as well as community care.

Despite presenting strong magical realist elements, the core tropes that Poison Ruin managed to deliver on this album don’t revolve around deus-ex-machina-ridden plots or knights in shining armor, but rather, the main lore focuses on the struggle and revolt of the marginalized. These are basically protest songs, but in a more realistic tone as it puts emphasis on the struggles that the present day civilization faces, in spite of the medieval-type aesthetics.

Plagues and plight, as well as poverty and classism, became the major recurring themes of the album’s deep lore; it dreams of a fantasy world of better future and better wellbeings of mankind.

Being heavy on distortions and fury-inducing sound effects, this album explores the more intricate sides of blackened harmonious resonances. While trying to manifest a utopia of collective future surrounded by communal wholesomeness, this album also dares to portray the bleaker sides of the shared reality that the marginalized misfits are facing as they battle through structural struggles on a day-to-day basis. Impeccably visceral, this album speaks the unspoken voices of the masses who hope that the ones who hold the position of power will one day falter.

It’s a good mix between punk, touches of post-punk/new wave, and NWOBHM-inspired elements. Not to mention, the political themes combined with fantasy-nuanced lores are also well-written. Definitely a catch.

Buy the album here:

https://www.relapse.com/pages/poison-ruin-harvest

8 / 10

RALKA SKJERSETH