Philadelphia’s hardcore bruisers Scarab unleash an unrelenting barrage on their latest album Burn After Listening, delivering a short, savage, and unforgettable record that feels like a nonstop fistfight from start to finish. From the opening blast of “Closure,” Scarab set their tone with fierce, locked-in drums, gritty riffs dripping with raw aggression, and vocals that claw at the walls with unfiltered intensity. The production strikes the perfect balance—clean enough to let every hit land with surgical precision, yet raw enough to keep the sound jagged and visceral.

One of the album’s standout features is the rhythm section, which isn’t just holding down the fort—it’s a weapon in its own right. The bass is thick and present, driving the band’s heavy backbone with a deep, punishing groove on tracks like “Animal in Pain” and “Everybody in the Way.” Meanwhile, the snare snaps hard, and the drums alternate between chaotic pounding and tight, groovy hits, providing a relentless pulse that keeps the energy high and unyielding.

Scarab excel at balancing chaos and control, swinging effortlessly between breakneck punk speed and earth-shaking hardcore stomp without ever losing intensity. They also inject variety into the onslaught—“Ugly” (featuring Todd Jones) drags things into grim, slower territory, offering some much-needed breathing space without sacrificing weight. “Ten Foot Shadow” plays with dissonance and stop-start riffing, adding a playful dimension to their brutality. Guest appearances on “Withdrawn” (featuring George Hirsch & DFJ) add further grit and depth, while the dynamic drumming prevents the record from sinking into monotony.

Throughout Burn After Listening, the songs remain short, sharp, and vicious—Scarab wastes no time, and their economy of energy makes every breakdown hit with devastating force. Whether it’s the relentless hammering of “Nail Gun” or the disturbing sample-driven buildup of “Intro/The Bug,” each track lands like a distinct weapon, all aimed at inflicting maximum damage.

The album is built to bruise—tight, well-produced, and unapologetically heavy. Scarab strip hardcore down to its essentials, avoiding overproduction or unnecessary complexity, and instead deliver pure, focused energy that hits harder than you expect and sticks with you long after the last note fades. Fans of raw, no-frills hardcore will find a lot to love here, while newcomers can expect a fierce introduction to one of Philadelphia’s most relentless bands.

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Rating: 8.5/10