If you thought powerviolence had already hit its brutal peak, think again. It’s 2024, and Vermont’s own Void Bringer is here to prove that the genre has a few more tricks up its blood-soaked sleeves. Enter the era of “mapleviolence,” as these long-standing Pxvx (that’s powerviolence for the uninitiated) warriors drop their latest sonic assault, Rural Anti-Bastard Mapleviolence, a full-length LP that’s as deadly as it is deliciously contrarian.
This 18-minute and 40-second blast of hellfire was captured during the frigid winter months of 2022-2023 at the notorious Mt. Din studio, with none other than Brett Nagafuchi behind the controls. The result? A record that slices through the noise with surgical precision, blending the frenetic chaos of old-school power violence with the crushing, pit-ready riffs of modern hardcore, all soaked in a distinct Vermont attitude. It’s not just music; it’s a manifesto of pure, distilled rage. As the band declares, this album is “more pissed, deeper in the cuts, and way more anti-bastard.”
Void Bringer’s journey began in 2016, when founding members Andrew Glynn and Matthew Severson decided the world needed a little more chaos. They’ve been on a relentless mission ever since, starting with their 2018 demo and building momentum through their 2021 release, *Cruel and Unusual*. With the addition of drummer Elliott Lester, guitarist Hank Isabelle, and bassist Rhys Williams, the band transitioned from a studio-only project to a full-blown live act, ripping through stages with a fury that matches their recorded output.
The past two years have seen Void Bringer tearing through the underground circuit with a vengeance, including a brutal Pacific Northwest mini-tour in July 2024, a standout performance at the third installment of Barely Breathing Fest in Bethpage, NY, and shared stages with underground heavyweights like Haggus, Noose Sweat, and Nailed Shut.
Rural Anti-Bastard Mapleviolence is now available across all streaming platforms, with vinyl releases via 625 Thrashcore and cassette editions through Nuclear Ass Records. To top it off, the band has dropped a video for the single “Declaration 24” on YouTube, featuring explosive live footage from their triumphant 2024 headlining show at Higher Ground in Burlington.
The personnel on Rural Anti-Bastard Mapleviolence includes Andrew Glynn on vocals and guitar, Matthew Severson on vocals and guitar, and Elliott Lester on vocals and drums. Additional vocals on “Blue Valley/Red Street” and “Gutcheck” were provided by Big Shot, with backup vocals by The Path and Black Axe.
The album was recorded in the winter and spring of 2022-2023 at Mt. Din in Bradford, Vermont, by Brett Nagafuchi. Additional vocals were recorded by Nick Monti in the Doom Room, and the album was mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. The artwork and design were created by Patrick Mayton.
Void Bringer is composed of Andrew Glynn, Matthew Severson, Elliott Lester, Hank Isabelle, and Rhys Williams.
