Dead Stare Hummingbird Of Death – Dead Stare Hummingbird Of Death
Alright, so here’s the deal: this album is a straight-up punch to the face, and I mean that in the best way possible. Released back in 2009 by some absolute maniacs from the US under Unholy Thrash Records, Dead Stare Hummingbird Of Death (yep, they named the band after the album—confusing but kinda cool) is grindcore and hardcore chaos wrapped up in one gnarly package. If you’re into stuff that makes your ears bleed while also questioning your life choices, this might just be your jam.
Let’s dive into two tracks that stuck with me because, honestly, this whole thing is a whirlwind and not every song hits the same.
First off, “Speed Of Armageddon” is exactly what it sounds like—fast as hell, loud as sin, and probably illegal in some countries. The riffs are relentless, like someone strapped a chainsaw to a rocket and let it rip through your speakers. What gets me about this track is how it doesn’t even give you time to breathe. It’s over before you can process what happened, but damn if it doesn’t leave a mark. You’ll find yourself hitting replay just to figure out whether you actually liked it or if it just traumatized you in the best way. Either way, mission accomplished.
Then there’s “Easy Mark,” which flips the vibe a bit. This one feels more calculated, like they’re messing with you on purpose. There’s still plenty of aggression, but it’s got these weird little pauses and shifts that make you think, “Wait…is this supposed to happen?” It’s like walking into a room where everyone stops talking and stares at you for no reason—it’s unsettling but kinda thrilling at the same time. Plus, the breakdown near the end? Chef’s kiss. Brutal doesn’t even cover it.
Other tracks like “Slave To A Cross” and “Community Slugs” keep the energy cranked, but those two really stood out to me because they feel like polar opposites of the same messed-up coin. One’s all raw speed, the other’s got layers of nasty surprises. Honestly, though, the whole album has this gritty charm that reminds you rock music used to be dangerous—not just vibes and Instagram captions.
So yeah, Dead Stare Hummingbird Of Death isn’t gonna win any Grammys (does grindcore even get nominated?), but who cares? This record feels like a middle finger to whatever boring expectations you walked in with. And honestly, that’s refreshing. If anything, listening to this made me realize something kinda wild: we live in a world where hummingbirds are usually seen as cute lil’ things flitting around flowers, but this band turned that idea inside out. Now I’ll never look at a hummingbird without thinking about screaming vocals and apocalyptic riffs. Thanks for ruining nature documentaries for me, guys.
Check it out if you’re brave enough—or bored enough—to see what happens when metal heads decide to break all the rules.
