Baltimore’s Megazillion is back with a bang, dropping two relentless tracks, “Don’t Get Sick” and “Clout,” just in time to stir up some chaos in your pre-Christmas weeks. The band, which features members of Consumer Culture, has built a reputation for their high-octane live shows across Richmond, Baltimore, and DC.
Megazillion’s roots are steeped in lockdown experimentation, starting in 2020 with the father-and-son duo of Paul Joyce (vocals/guitar) and Paulie Joyce (drums). When the band transitioned to the stage, they added guitarist Marshall Veth and bassist Alexander Harrell to the lineup, rounding out a crew that thrives on bending punk’s boundaries.
View this post on Instagram
Their live shows are a chaotic cocktail of hardcore, post-hardcore, and what can only be described as “oddities.” In the words of Paul Joyce, “We’re always looking for ways to stretch the limits of what people expect, but we never lose that raw edge.”
“Don’t Get Sick” delivers a furious 42-second sprint tackling the economic nightmare of American healthcare. Packed with rapid-fire riffs and pummeling blast beats, it’s as biting in its critique as it is exhilarating in its pace.
“Clout,” running a slightly more measured 2 minutes and 52 seconds, starts like a classic punk anthem but veers into chaotic territory halfway through, evoking shades of Butthole Surfers. The lyrics take aim at inauthenticity—those who build themselves up by taking credit for others’ efforts.
Recorded and mixed by Christian Lumsden, and mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman at Mobtown Studios in Baltimore, the tracks showcase a production style that’s raw and visceral. Paul Joyce co-produced the songs with Lumsden, while the artwork and photography came from the Joyce family—Paul and Paulie.
As for their creative trajectory, the band is already teasing an EP slated for early 2025, packed with the same ferocity they bring to their current live sets. Meanwhile, Paul Joyce continues to explore experimental sounds under the Megazillion banner. His upcoming release, LoFi High Volumes 2, compiles years of cassette-recorded oddities, and his Megatations series ventures into ambient territory.
“We’re just trying to keep things honest—raw, gritty, and loud.”
