DON'T DO DRUGS!

Few bands capture pure chaos quite like Fentanyl. Emerging from California's thriving hardcore underground, the band have quickly earned a reputation for blending powerviolence, grindcore, d-beat, crust punk, and noisy hardcore into frantic explosions that rarely last longer than a minute or two. Their music isn't built around technicality or flashy musicianship—it's about impact. Every riff, blast beat, and scream exists to create as much violence as possible before disappearing almost as quickly as it arrived.

With Fentanyl II, however, the band make one noticeable change. While the songwriting remains every bit as frantic and unpredictable as before, the production has been cleaned up considerably. The result is an EP that offers greater instrumental clarity but occasionally sacrifices the suffocating grime that made their previous material feel genuinely dangerous.

Opening track "Layers of Shame" immediately introduces that contrast. Static-covered guitars buzz over deep, hollow drum hits while a thick bass tone quietly dominates the lower frequencies. The vocals sound completely unhinged, scratching and tearing through the mix with desperate intensity. Unlike many modern hardcore releases that fill every available space, Fentanyl allow their arrangements to breathe. The empty spaces between riffs create an uneasy tension that makes each burst of violence feel even more abrupt. The bass does much of the heavy lifting here, giving the song surprising weight despite its stripped-back structure.

"Fool's Errand" continues the assault with crust-soaked guitar work and straightforward hardcore rhythms. The tom-heavy drumming adds welcome texture while the bass quietly reinforces every riff beneath the surface. The band's ability to establish a memorable groove within such a short runtime remains impressive, although the song ends almost as quickly as it begins, never fully expanding beyond its opening idea.

The intensity ramps up on "Insubordinate." Furious screams become the centerpiece, sounding genuinely unstable and emotionally raw. It's here that the cleaner production creates its biggest conflict. The vocal performance feels absolutely feral, but the polished guitar tone and increased separation between instruments soften the overwhelming claustrophobia that defined earlier releases. The performance itself remains excellent, but the atmosphere never becomes quite as suffocating as fans may expect.

"Cobrar el Dolor" injects fresh urgency through frantic blast beats and relentless pacing. The stringy guitar tone remains intact while the deeper drum sound helps restore some of the grit missing from earlier tracks. The increased speed works in the cleaner production's favor, as the relentless momentum prevents listeners from dwelling on the thinner overall mix. Instead, the song simply barrels forward with controlled violence.

The pace slows considerably on "Escapist," allowing the bass to become the dominant instrument. Thick, plucky low-end grooves give the song genuine weight while the anguished vocals continue delivering convincing emotional intensity. Unfortunately, this is also where the cleaner production becomes most noticeable. The sparse arrangement feels exposed rather than oppressive, making the song sound less crushing than its excellent songwriting deserves.

A similar issue appears during "Survived By." Rumbling drums and gradually expanding bass lines provide a strong rhythmic foundation while the vocals remain desperate and emotionally convincing. As additional layers slowly enter the mix, the song gains more substance, but it never quite reaches the overwhelming density that made previous Fentanyl material feel so physically suffocating.

Fortunately, "Final Effort" quickly restores much of that missing impact. Sharp drum rolls, punchy snare hits, abrasive guitars, and one of the EP's strongest bass performances combine into one of the release's standout moments. The chemistry between the rhythm section is particularly impressive here, reminding listeners that Fentanyl's greatest strength has always been the interaction between their bass and drums rather than sheer instrumental complexity.

Closing track "Delay Tolerance" ends the EP with another frantic burst of controlled chaos. The faster tempo masks many of the production's shortcomings, allowing the energetic drumming, fuller bass tone, and buzzing guitars to collide into one final blast of violence. Like much of the EP, it leaves almost immediately after arriving, encouraging another immediate replay.

What ultimately separates Fentanyl II from its predecessor isn't the songwriting—it's the production philosophy. The previous release buried listeners beneath layers of grime, distortion, and suffocating noise that perfectly complemented the band's chaotic style. Here, the cleaner mix provides far greater definition between instruments, allowing listeners to appreciate the musicianship more easily. At the same time, that increased clarity slightly reduces the overwhelming atmosphere that made Fentanyl feel uniquely dangerous within today's hardcore scene.

Thankfully, the songwriting remains consistently strong. The band still excel at packing memorable riffs, frantic energy, and emotional intensity into remarkably short songs. The bass continues to be one of the strongest elements throughout the record, delivering thick low-end presence that anchors the otherwise frantic arrangements. Likewise, the drum performance remains tight and energetic without relying solely on nonstop blast beats.

If there's a criticism beyond the production, it's that several slower songs expose just how minimal many of the arrangements actually are. While that simplicity often works in noisier mixes, the cleaner production occasionally leaves the music feeling thinner than intended. More layering or additional sonic textures could have helped preserve some of the oppressive atmosphere without sacrificing clarity.

Even so, Fentanyl II remains another strong release from one of hardcore's most interesting young bands. It may trade some of the grime and suffocating chaos that defined their earlier work for a cleaner presentation, but the band's creativity, intensity, and ability to deliver explosive bursts of powerviolence remain fully intact. Fans expecting another relentless barrage of noisy hardcore will still find plenty to love, even if this chapter feels more like an evolution in presentation than a complete reinvention of their sound.