SOCIOCLAST hailing from San Jose, California, were formed in 2018 by Matt Gomes and Cris Rodriguez both at ALTARS. Colin Tarvin (MORTUOUS) completed the line-up and they recorded their debut full-length album. It was mixed and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios at Oakland, California. SOCIOCLAST play Death Metal with Grindcore elements and focus on sociopolitical lyrics. The album was released via California label Carbonized Records which have their credentials in Death and Doom Metal. No video was released so far. The album has a length of approximately 17 minutes.

The self-titled debut album of SOCIOCLAST is unusual regarding a few aspects. One of them is the length of 17 minutes split into 15 songs and the other one is that SOCIOCLAST have a lyrical message. While the former one itself is not that unusual, the second one surely is and the combination of both probably even more. The fact that a Death Metal/Grindcore band have something to say other than about dead, violence, psychopaths, and mass murderer is the exception from the rule, but how to implement sociopolitics into a 17 minutes onslaught of grind? While I write this paragraph, the first run of listening the album is already over which means I am either too slow or SOCIOCLAST are too fast.

They are indeed fast, all songs are played breakneck speed although the opener starts with a dark and slow intro. This does not last long until the album erupts into a murderous frenzy of hammering double-bass drums and blast-beats, aggressive guitar riffs, crunching bass, and mostly low guttural vocals with a few high pitched screams. Although most songs barely exceed one minute, SOCIOCLAST understand it to add breaks into songs in a very smart way. Some of the songs like "Psychic Void", "Terminal Regress", or "Archaic Remnants" have a mid-tempo start before they explode, while others start blisteringly fast and have their break right before the end like "Eden's Tongue", "Psychodrone", or "Omega". Some of the shorter songs like "Convention Of Ruin" are in utter chaos regarding song structure. All of the songs are driven forward by the relentless work on the drums by Cris Rodriguez. He really bludgeons the listener and hardly let them breathe. "Socioclast" also has a few slower and darker guitar riffs as on "Propaganda Algorithm", "Infinity Nexus", or "Concrete And Steel". "Propaganda Algorithm" is gloomy throughout and probably the darkest song on the album. Given that all songs are very short on the album, there is little time for extended and technically comprehensive lead guitar sequences. However, SOCIOCLAST include short lead guitar sequences whenever possible such as in "Infinity Nexus".

SOCIOCLAST are a good addition to the Death Metal and Grindcore community. The add something new and they come with a fresh approach. The sound on "Socioclast" is different compared to other bands of this genre. SOCIOCLAST have in addition something to say, this is a bonus and makes them special. The songs on the album are diverse and are evidence of good songwriting. The album is well produced. With their debut, SOCIOCLAST have made a very good start to their career and if they can establish their sound and messages in future albums, they may become a serious force in Death Metal and Grindcore.