REVIEW: JIVEBOMB - ETHEREAL

You have just under fifteen minutes left to live - so why not get the sledgehammer out? Baltimore darlings JIVEBOMB are about to release their brutal assault of an EP ETHEREAL, a ten-track firecracker of a record, with each song lasting well under the two-minute mark. At the perfect length to let off some much-needed steam, it pushes the boundaries of hardcore, grindcore and the realms of the extreme with two raised fists. There’s no doubt about it - JIVEBOMB are back for blood. Whatever happens in the pit, stays in the pit. 

ETHEREAL is JIVEBOMB’s third release, and the most gut-wrenching yet. Recorded in the Circular Ruin Studios in Brooklyn, New York, the record is gritty, intensely pushed to the limits and infused with vocalist Kat Madeira’s unrivalled snarls. Supporting Angel Du$t on their east coast tour in the run-up to the release, they will also have their UK homecoming at the Manchester leg of Outbreak Festival later in June, alongside hardcore royalty Knocked Loose and Speed. 

‘THE IMPACT’ is our emphatic opener, pulling us forcefully into the album with guitar static. Heavy chugs build into a cascading drop of sound. We are introduced to JIVEBOMB at its most aggressive - a prowling beast of a track, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting listeners. It’s definitely a loud ‘in-your-face’ listen,  something you'd blast on a sunny day to intimidate the neighbours. Picking up the pace with ‘ESTRELA’, we become fully acquainted with Kat’s unrelenting growls, churning the track into a sweaty mess. A spectacular slow-burn breakdown fuels the second half of the song, as we become one with the first single from this new era, ‘SURVIVAL AIN’T TAUGHT’. Still relentless and fast-paced, it loses itself slightly within the pacing of the other tracks but comes back to redeem itself when it changes up its style, employing a monumental blast of sound at the end of the track. 

Arguably, ‘WISE CHOICE’ is the biggest jewel in the record's crown. Both grimy and groovy, it turns the pit into a dancefloor. This track gives some well-needed breathing room to the listener, with the tight constraints of the record being otherwise blindingly fierce. But it doesn’t last long. ‘FATES DOMAIN’ is tight and imposing, a slow track driven by cut-throat guitars and harrowing wails, whilst the whiplash of 'RHYTHM ZERO' - being the fastest and the most blindsiding track of the record - leaves no room for error. Unpredictability drives this track, as well as an excruciatingly fierce whammy bar.

In amongst the slam-sandwich of tracks, 'CHARM' is a brutal follow-up to 'RHYTHM ZERO'. It’s a pneumatic drill of a track that brings with it brutal noise and mortally impending doom. The construction project isn't over yet, with 'MISTAKEN' being reinforced with titanium steel beams, bassy drum manoeuvres and a whole lot of grit - a hard hat and PPE are a must-have when coming in within 10 feet of this album. 'SERAPHIM (MARINA’S SONG)' follows suit, leaving enough room for a guitar solo. It’s built on pure unbridled anger. 'DISFIGURED' brings the album to a close with immense sound and even more ferocity. A final war cry and a fleeting siren bring this damaging chapter of JIVEBOMB’s story firmly to a close. 

JIVEBOMB, this is an impressive record with a lot of potential. Some moments are so intense that eleven minutes of pure noise is just the right length to stomach it. There is no need for more, the record did what it needed to do. Thoroughly shaken, positively electrifying and, to top it off, it's still a good old-school sludgy record (with actually quite decent production). Live at the BEC is all we need to call it a triumph. 

Score: 7/10

ETHEREAL will be released on March 28th 2025 via Flatspot Records.

Words: Amber Brooks

Photos: JIVEBOMB