Human Zoo, the latest release from Stress Positions, is a thrilling, chaotic, and unexpectedly hypnotic plunge into modern grindcore threaded with experimental punk sensibilities. It’s an album that thrives on contradiction: frantic yet tightly controlled, abrasive yet strangely beautiful, viscerally fast but unafraid of slowing into a heavy, trance-like crawl. Across its runtime, the Chicago quartet proves they’re not simply participating in the resurgence of extreme punk — they’re carving out their own sharp-edged corner of it.

The record ignites with “Sadistic,” immediately showcasing Stress Positions’ gift for pairing razor-sharp riffs and frantic percussion with a surprisingly anchored groove. The drums feel both breathless and deliberate, like they’re sprinting within the confines of a precise geometric pattern. Over top, the high-pitched, cutting screams dominate the mix — a vocal presence reminiscent of the searing extremity of Thai powerviolence act Speech Odd, but with a crispness that recalls the streamlined aggression of Korean hardcore group Slant. As the song slides into its slower back half, guitar lines stretch and bend into a hypnotic drift, proving the band knows how to summon trance-like heaviness as effectively as they deliver speed.

This relationship between clutter and clarity defines much of the album. “Fragile” swings wildly between scattershot drum assaults and thickened, slower grooves that reveal just how locked-in the rhythm section truly is. Even at its most chaotic, there’s intention behind every jagged edge. The title track “Human Zoo” distills the band’s essential qualities into a tightly wound assault: driving drums, concise riffs, and vocals that teeter between commanding and unhinged. Its hypnotic pulse reveals how effortlessly Stress Positions marry aggression with precision.

The band’s ability to shift dynamics without losing their identity is one of the album’s most engaging strengths. “Nakba” leans into a slower, groovier pulse, allowing the bass to swell into the spotlight. The result is moody but no less intense, showing that weight can come from space and restraint just as effectively as from speed. “Blood Money,” by contrast, slashes forward with blistering riffs and a sense of urgent, barely-contained momentum. The slightly messy execution heightens its rawness, while ghostly backing vocals give it an eerie, spectral haze that lingers long after the track ends.

“Salbahe Ako” stands out as a moment of pure, thrilling confidence. Thunderous drums and razor-wire riffs surge with speed and clarity, while a serpentine guitar solo twists through the mix, injecting a surprising amount of catchiness into the chaos. It’s one of the clearest examples of the band’s technical sharpness and willingness to stretch beyond straight-ahead hardcore.

“Kaddish” marks the album’s boldest atmospheric departure. Opening with ritualistic chanting and spoken word over a droning, desolate backdrop, it channels the grief, desolation, and societal decay hinted at on the album art. Themes of memory, loss, and warning saturate the track, making it one of the record’s most emotionally resonant and thematically weighty moments.

The remix suite at the end of the album broadens the project’s sonic reach even further. “Human Zoo (Planet B Remix)” reimagines the song through a dark, trap-leaning lens, pushing vocals into the background while distorted, industrial-tinged riffs erupt through the haze. “Blood Money (Planet B Remix)” dives into glitchy, techno-influenced territory, evoking the distortion of a corrupted video game world unraveling in real time. “Human Zoo (Made by Human Hands Remix)” takes a different angle entirely, opting for quiet minimalism; while intriguing in concept, its subtlety undersells some of the emotional weight present in the original.

Taken as a whole, Human Zoo showcases a band with global ears and a fiercely local identity. Stress Positions filter 90s alt-grunge textures, Southeast Asian grindcore intensity, American hardcore tradition, and modern experimental grit into a sound that feels both familiar and startlingly fresh. Their ability to braid these influences into something cohesive without sanding down the rough edges is what makes this release so compelling.

The result is an album of extremes: frenetic yet disciplined, abrasive yet hypnotic, chaotic yet groovy. Some tracks flirt with clutter, and a few remixes don’t land as strongly as their source material, but the band’s creativity, presence, and explosiveness make this a standout release in contemporary punk and extreme music. It’s a vivid, ambitious record that pushes boundaries without losing its core identity.