In the roughly year and a half since , barely came up for air. The New Jersey hardcore punks scooped up new drummer Alex Salter, toured nonstop, and signed to a new record label, Blue Grape. Life was so busy that Gel had to wedge themselves into a remote cabin to hash out new songs before their tour schedule swallowed them whole.
Once there, they heeded the advice that closed out : “ .” Those sessions birthed a five-song EP, , that’s bigger and bolder than anything they’ve recorded before. But in true Gel fashion, are top of mind.
Recorded over two weeks and inspired by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s concept of , singer Sami Kaiser digs up the repulsive, unflattering parts of their own subconscious with an honesty that verges on self-punishment; the title track’s threat (“Don’t forget your fucking place”) sounds as much like an indictment of frauds as it does a self-reminder. To further enhance that, the band approaches the definitive Gel aggression with newfound musical aplomb. Kaiser’s bellows foam with spittle, as if the greed and conceit they’re lambasting is contagious.
For guitarist Anthony Webster, it takes shape in guitar tones modeled after and . Both bassist Mathew Bobko and guitarist Maddi Nave bet on tried-and-true punk without shying away from melody. Even Salter tightens his drumming so the opening, isolated quarter notes of “Mirage” hit as hard as the D-beat barrage in “Martyr.
” EP highlight “Shame” represents Gel’s most nota.