‘Yours, With Malice’ review: Youth Code throw a rave in a war zone

The daily grind is debilitating. Each passing day brings more bad news, and we’re expected to work through it.  Yours, With Malice is exactly what we need: a rave in a war zone. Whether you’re Youth Code faithful, new to industrial, or just looking to move your body, Malice is worth your time. Crush anxiety with thunderous kick drums. Sever depression with synthesizer. Scream along to the lyrics. Remind the world you’re alive. If you’re looking for something apocalyptic, look no further.

Building magic onstage.

Youth Code have been devastating eardrums with their signature blend of hardcore and gothic industrial since 2012. For over a decade they’ve earned respect from the underground with hyper-aggressive performances and production. Legendary industrial acts like Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly have praised and toured with Youth Code. The duo have released three full length albums, several EPs, singles, and collaborated with genre peers HEALTH.

One of the most impressive parts about Youth Code is the fact that there are only two members. Sara Taylor is the front of the band, plays synthesizer, and samples. She’s fantastically energetic on stage, and has a distinct vocal style I call a “bark.” Ryan George provides some backup vocals, but his main duties are the drum machines, keyboards, synthesizers, and programming. When they perform live, he builds the songs right there on stage, it’s magical.

No peace.

Yours, With Malice waits 14 seconds before the opening track “No Consequence” mercilessly pummels us with drums that could terraform a planet. Taylor rabidly demands “Come get it back if you can’t take it!” and takes all the peace from Earth for 16 minutes 51 seconds.

George and Taylor’s tried and true blend of hardcore gothic industrial assaults us with massive kick drums, grimy bass, and Taylor’s barks full of rage, agony, and desperation.

Youth Code have expanded their pallet to add elements of EDM to their music as exemplified with the cataclysmic synths of “Make Sense” and the glitching break-beats of “In Search of Tomorrow.”

Only Malice.

Youth Code have never been ones to shy away from difficult topics ranging from the struggle of trans people to racism and animal abuse. Though, Malice does take a turn for the more personal. The lyrics are painful descriptions of a bitter parting of ways, struggles with addiction, and declining mental health. “Wishing Well” gives us a thick foreboding atmosphere with a distorted bass riff over Taylor mechanically announcing to us, “Moments spent did nothing,” and “Thrown away, it meant nothing at all.” Reminders that the stomping of the drums is a constant march into oblivion.

“What I’ve done to be loved some find debilitating,” is another particularly gut punching line from “Make Sense.” Album closer “I’m Sorry” has ultra-crushed guitars drive us towards a cliff until broken glass is represented by a keyboard lead as Taylor pleads “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

These confused rants and pleadings complement the overwhelming cacophony of a cruel and chaotic world. The insides match the agonizingly ugly outsides. All of this chaos is decoded and contained by long-time extreme-metal producer, musician, and mixer Sanford Parker.

There’s no shortage of literal noise on this project, but Parker manages to represent each layer of sound coherently without losing the heavy.

New Weapons.

The addition of EDM synths and drum patterns mesh well with the gothic atmosphere and breakneck speed inherent to Youth Code’s music. The new noise increases brutality and is a new musical weapon to attack us with. Hardcore style breakdowns create space for glitching layers of drums and sweeping laser synths. Chaotic breakbeats supply machine gun speed to the bombshell kick drums. The mosh pit has been shelled and turned into a rave. You can finally two-step AND wear your neon hairfalls.

Malice already fits well within the larger body of work George and Taylor have built, and the experimentation with other electronic genres only gives Youth Code’s already complex music more textures and flavors to chew on. In “Make Sense”, they contrast harsh static with keys that sound hollow and exhausted. The rave is an open pit in winter and it’s starting to rain.

The music dies and peace returns to Earth.

Yours, With Malice manages to cover a lot of ground within its short run time, the EP clocks in at a lean 17 minutes 5 seconds. The short length is perfect for an auditory explosion and a carryover from Youth Code’s hardcore influences. Malice definitely manages to make an impression despite its brevity, the shorter length grants much needed breathing room in a hellishly brutal noise record. George and Taylor are not here to hold your hand, they are here to crash your car.

Whether you’re new to industrial, or already enjoy heavy music, Yours, With Malice is certainly worth a spin. You’ve spent about a third the length of the EP’s to read this far. If you’re willing to give little ole’ me the time, go ahead and give them the time too.

Album cover courtesy of Sumerian Records. Yours, With Malice can be purchased via Bandcamp.