As the rhythm guitarist and producer for Ashen Pall, I’m no stranger to the power of heavy, aggressive music. Writing my first review for Black Metal Archives feels like a natural extension of my own passion for pushing the boundaries of sound. Violent Thoughts by Midir immediately grabbed my attention with its raw intensity, chaotic riffs, and unapologetic attitude. Blending grindcore aggression with nu-metal groove and a hint of doom, this EP hits with the kind of force that metal fans like myself crave. Midir’s ability to mix these elements into a blistering sonic assault is a testament to their skill and vision.
Since Midir is also from Canada (though not the part with an ocean), they automatically earn some bonus points in my book. If I weren’t here to do a proper review, I might just stop right there—because Violent Thoughts is an unrelenting wall of sound that speaks for itself.
Although Midir has been around since 2020, I first heard them through their excellent Black Sludge EP, which I discovered through the very same publication for which I am now reviewing Violent Thoughts. However, I’ll avoid direct comparisons, as these are two very different releases—the latter leaning far more heavily into doom metal territory.
Violent Thoughts, on the other hand, feels far more raw, gritty, and in-your-face. The drums are brutal—relentless blast beats drive the EP forward with unyielding intensity, setting an urgent, almost suffocating tone. Right from the start, Breaking Point makes its aggression clear. The track opens with a brief dialogue sample before launching straight into shouted, confrontational vocals that define the entire release. The guitars churn out jagged, chaotic riffs, and the bass punches through with a thick, slamming presence. There’s no time for respite—this track is built for pure catharsis. Midir masterfully fuses nu-metal’s weighty, groove-driven basslines with the blistering speed of grindcore, creating a sound that’s both crushing and chaotic.
That crushing intensity certainly doesn’t end with the final “Fuck this” of Breaking Point. K.A.R. picks up right where it left off, wasting no time as a quick hi-hat count-in plunges the listener straight back into the chaos. At just 1 minute and 40 seconds, K.A.R. is the most grindcore-inspired track on the EP, delivering a relentless assault of blistering riffs and punishing drums. The guitars slice through the mix with razor-sharp precision, while the layered vocal doubling adds an eerie sense of space and depth. The bass, though slightly more restrained than on Breaking Point, still punches through with a tight, locked-in groove that intertwines seamlessly with the drums. It’s a short, violent burst of energy that refuses to let up.
Finally, the EP closes with Black & White, the longest track on the release—its runtime surpassing the combined length of the first two tracks by about ten seconds. Here, the vocals reach new levels of aggression, with even more visceral screaming and a pronounced nu-metal edge. This track delivers the most variety on the EP, featuring rapid shifts in rhythm that keep the listener on edge. Midir masterfully uses silence to punctuate punishing guitar hits, creating an ebb and flow of intensity that makes each moment hit harder. A standout section arrives during the breakdown, where a loosely tremolo-picked riff takes on an almost surf rock quality—an unexpected touch that somehow feels right at home within the chaos.
If you like your music fast, heavy, and with a touch of unrelenting chaos, Violent Thoughts is here to wreck your eardrums in the best way possible. Don’t take my word for it—head to Bandcamp and brace yourself.
