Undergust: Irrational Behavior | Not Suitable For Sensitive Ears
(2016 – Undergust)
It had been quite a while since I’d listened to anything hardcore, but we’re talking about the good kind of hardcore—that genre often labeled “hardcore crossover”—and one with a direct message: blunt, heavy, combative, and straightforward. That’s what “Irrational Behavior” is all about—and more. Presented as an EP, it marked the Brazilian band Undergust’s first foray into a recording studio. The band hails from the bustling city of São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and Latin America. With that in mind, we can already see where this is headed.
We mentioned that Undergust’s sound can be musically defined as Hardcore Crossover, a distinct genre that logically draws its essence from Hardcore but leans decisively toward Thrash Metal—and that’s precisely where we can place the São Paulo-based band. And not just because of the musical genre. Their lyrics and message align perfectly with this unique style.
But above all, Undergust’s sound is tasteful, straight to the point, fierce, and committed. “Irrational Behavior” is just an EP, with only 6 tracks, but in just over 10 minutes, it’s enough to leave us wanting to kick the table and everything within reach.
It starts with an intro of raging guitars and percussion that demands speed. It’s the welcome to the dark, protest-driven world Undergust proposes. The first track in question is “No Chance,” with a foundation blending hardcore and thrash metal-style riffs, accompanied by vocals that are somewhere between rotten and raspy.
With some interesting guitar riffs and the necessary speed, “Think About” follows—another gratuitous and vulgar display of power—which seems to extend into “Undergust,” a self-referential track that also explains the band’s name (which in Spanish means “Under the Gust”), featuring reflective lyrics about the times we’re living in and the harsh reality of today’s world.
We also find “Irrational Behavior,” the track that gives this EP its name. With a rhythm and riffs closer to Death Metal, it surprises with its relentless intensity. And as the final track, we have “Manipulaçâo,” sung entirely in Portuguese in this case, and with a sound much more centered on hardcore punk, very much in the style of Ratos De Porâo, to give a reference, thus rounding out a promising debut.
Given the number of tracks included, this is clearly an EP, and as expected from a band like Undergust, the songs are not only direct and to the point but also average between one and two minutes in length. No unnecessary padding.
The foundations are simple but strong and aggressive. The riffs and thrashing don’t try to be virtuosic by any means, but they retain that unmistakable link to the blast beat so typical of the most dizzying and raw Thrash Metal, which Undergust preserves in their sound. And it is precisely in the sound of this work that part of its personality lies, capturing the atmosphere the band wishes to convey; the natural, overwhelming, and frenetic energy triumphs over anything that attempts to mask the band’s sound. Here, more than virtuosity, there is a genuine quality that overcomes even the precarious conditions of a recording studio. Yes, both in Brazil and the rest of Latin America, recording an album costs three times as much as anywhere else on earth, and it’s not just a financial issue, but also a lack of access to the means to make it happen.
I loved the cover. Very much in the style of the genre, yet in an almost cartoonish tone, it shows the sad reality between ordinary citizens and those in power. By the way, the booklet is unique in that it presents the song lyrics in a sort of newspaper collage, set among sensationalist headlines. The lyrics, as we mentioned, address reality—social and political issues—but from a Christian perspective. In that regard, it struck us as a project that doesn’t shy away from reality but confronts it head-on.
Following this debut EP, Undergust appeared on several compilations and even released a full-length album in 2018 (“Chaos Farm”), and from what I’ve heard, they may have new material coming soon. For now, “Irrational Behavior” is a release that doesn’t disappoint and is sure to resonate deeply with fans of the Hardcore/Thrash crossover scene.
Undergust doesn’t have an official music video for any track on this EP, but instead, we’ve included the song “No Chance” from this release below. And as always, here are the links to find these brothers from São Paulo on social media, to support them, follow them, and of course, stay updated on their latest news…
https://www.facebook.com/undergust
https://www.instagram.com/undergust
