Local wreckers Human Bodies are currently out on the road, taking their frenetic brand of punk-influenced black metal on a sprawling 35-date US tour. With them, they’ve brought along a hundred copies of their new three song cassette (cassingle?), Demo XXMV. Man oh man, does it deliver the goods.

On this very site, I once praised their previous release No Life for bringing a grinding, noisy basement show aesthetic to classic, Darkthrone-style ’90s metal. For Demo MMXV, these gimp-masked psychos take it even a step further, drenching every track in feedback and distortion while retaining a heavy, muscular low end.

Opener “Resolution” is one of Human Bodies’ best offerings to date, a punishing, largely mid-tempo stomper that finds time to work in some killer soloing and a rad blast beat section without overstaying its welcome. “Plague” is a bit longer, and a little bit more rock and roll at points. It showcases all three musicians’ ability nicely before ending in a minute and half of total, all-consuming, cacophonous noise. “Sterile Abyss” closes out the tape by bringing some ominous, dark-ambient experimentalism to the proceedings, which is an unexpected but righteous development for these dudes.

Human Bodies remain one of New England’s fiercest metal bands, and with any luck after such a grueling tour schedule they’ll be coming home tighter and fiercer than ever. Check them out as soon as you get the chance.

Demo MMXV is available from Human Bodies on their current tour, or for download at their bandcamp.