Ilsa could very well be the heaviest band on the planet right now (perhaps SSOS would give them a run for their money). This 12” is the first “official” version of their self-released debut recordings that I believe were only ever available on CD. Remixed and remastered for vinyl, this is Ilsa at its most raw and most primitive. That’s not to suggest that these tracks don’t show the promise of the absolutely crushing Intoxicantations LP, or even the vicious debut LP, Tutti Il Colori Del Buio (with which this 12” shares a few tracks), but compared to their more recent material (which is, in my opinion, some of the most exquisitely executed dark hardcore/metal of the past many years) this sounds like a band finding its footing. That said, Ilsa “finding its footing” far surpasses the output of most of their peers, and The Maggots Are Hungry serves as an incredibly impressive glimpse at the disgusting heaviness to come.
–Dave William (A389)