Hellshock – “Warlord EP”

Released in 2005 through the iconic underground label Profane Existence, the Warlord E.P. is a quintessential artifact of Portland, Oregon’s bleak, metallic crust punk titans, Hellshock. Recorded at Sound Impression Studios, the release captures the band at a creative peak, solidifying their status as masters of “stenchcore”—a grim fusion of heavy, apocalyptic d-beat crust with the chugging, dark dynamics of old-school thrash and death metal. Driven by Grizzle’s cavernous, throat-shredding growls and thunderous, dual-guitar rhythms heavily indebted to UK metal-punk legends like Amebix, Sacrilege, and Bolt Thrower, the EP moves with a dense, tank-like momentum. It cuts through the standard 1980s hardcore imitation to deliver a monolithic, war-torn atmosphere that completely defined the Pacific Northwest’s DIY punk underground during the mid-2000s.

Track Listing:

1. Warlord 4:09
2. Legion 3:09