SINGLE SPOTLIGHT: R.O.T.W.L.C.F.T.S.C.B.M.H. - “Cutthroat”

Released: February 19th, 2023

Bandcamp / Instagram / Spotify

R.O.T.W.L.C.F.T.S.C.B.M.H. are easily one of the most interesting metal bands, if not most interesting bands in general, to show up on the RVA scene and surrounding regions in some time. With a chaotic blend of noise, grindcore, sludge, doom, and death metals all alchemized into an anarchy of audible onslaught, they’ve quickly gone from merely a wacky acronym that people snickered at in curiosity on flyers, to one of the most recognized (despite how difficult it might be for some to pronounce or remember) names from here to Baltimore, and that’s just as far as I know about. Guitarist/vocalist Evelyn Dyer began the project over COVID lockdown, with a desire to make the grittiest, nastiest, harshest noises possible, only to be joined by Colin Dyer on drums and Zachary Loyd on bass shortly thereafter. Occasionally other members are featured for live purposes when needed, but generally speaking their act revolves around this main three; Today we’ll be highlighting their latest release – “Cutthroat”!

The 1:15 track catapults us right into a barrage of fast riffs, intense drum work, and shrieking vocals, instantly affirming the anticipations of the feedback opening the song for the first second. It’s nothing but relentless grind from start to finish. The song sends us back to the Painter of Dead Girls days of Pig Destroyer, with its raw, recorded-in-a-warehouse-like production style as well as general roughness in sound as a whole. The song, in some ways, also feels like something from the early days of Brutal Truth, although I think Eve’s vocals may possess a bit more of a higher tone on the high screams than Kevin Sharpe’s. Regardless, fans of either band should definitely check out ROTWL.

Good grindcore is a pleasant reminder that sometimes messy can also be beautiful. Sometimes the appalling is artistic. “Cutthroat” certainly makes a statement to that notion, presenting pure aggression in a format that results in unity amongst angry metalheads that decide running into each other at high speeds and causing a nearby onlooker to spill their $7 IPA they just purchased from the venue bar is a therapy beyond what any trained professionals in psychology could ever hope to provide. Let’s face it, they’re probably right.

ROTWL have already unleashed plenty of hell between their two full-lengths, splits, and singles, and “Cutthroat” is the newest in that line of nonstop grind. But the question stands – is this a sampling of a new full-length to be released in the near future? Perhaps a one-off? Will we find out on the next episode of ROTWL-Z? Who knows what the trio (or perhaps moreso on the songwriting aspect, Evelyn Dyer) could be up to next! If it were predictable, it probably wouldn’t be grindcore, as much as some of the nerds reading this will likely say ‘oh but it all sounds the same though!!!’ The style may stay within certain tropes, but the moves are always of a different tactic from band to band; Take, for instance, the differences between Naked City and wecamewithbrokenteeth; ‘Like the difference between an elephant, and an elephant seal.’

If you think ROTWL’s music is wild, you should see their live act. Lucky, or unlucky, for you – they are set to make a run as far North as Harrisonburg, VA, as far South as Tampa, Florida, and as far West as New Orleans, Louisiana. Starting March 10th and going till March 18th, if you find yourself anywhere near any of the states they’ll be playing, do yourself a favor and make the date! Be sure to follow them at any of the links attached to the start of this article above, and get absolutely decimated by the power of ROTWLCFTSCBMH at a venue, basement, or living room nearest you!