Okinawa hardcore band 090 waste no time making their intentions clear on their 2025 demo. It’s a short, bruising release built on thick grooves, hostile vocals, and slow, ignorant heaviness, with zero interest in polish or experimentation. This is hardcore stripped to its fundamentals—weight, attitude, and momentum—and it works because the band commits fully to that approach.

“right thing” sets the tone immediately with crushing low-end riffs and bass that feel dense and suffocating. The drums move with purpose rather than flash, locking into a steady groove before pulling back into simpler patterns that let the heaviness hit harder. The vocals are raw and confrontational, slicing through the mix with a nasty edge that keeps the track feeling dangerous. When the bass drops into the breakdown, the groove becomes undeniable, and the slow, chug-heavy ending feels oppressive in the best way. There’s a sharp, high-register aggression in the vocal delivery that adds extra venom, giving the track real personality.

“saijo” follows without easing up, hitting with punchier drum work and an even thicker low end. Everything here feels grimy and confident, driven by bouncy riffs that carry serious swagger. The vocals stay sharp and hostile, riding the groove instead of overpowering it. While the snare sits slightly low in the mix, the drums still bring enough force to keep the track moving, especially when paired with the locked-in bass. The simplicity of the songwriting works in its favor, letting rhythm and attitude do all the talking.

The demo closes with “sonata,” easily the most vicious track of the three. The vocals sound unhinged, spitting over blunt, heavy riffs and a bass tone that feels like a physical blow. The drum mix improves here, giving the song more impact and drive. Structurally, it’s straightforward, but the sheer weight of the breakdowns makes that simplicity hit harder. When the tempo briefly picks up and the vocals turn even more venomous, the song reaches its peak before dropping into a final slow, dumb-heavy breakdown that embodies hardcore ignorance in the best possible way.

Overall, 090’s 2025 demo is raw, groovy, and unapologetically heavy. The production is rough around the edges and the songwriting is intentionally bare-bones, but the band’s confidence, sense of groove, and aggressive vocal presence carry the release. It’s the kind of demo that knows exactly what it wants to do, delivers it without hesitation, and leaves you curious to hear how much heavier they can get next.