“The world isn’t any less frustrating or stupid than it was when we made our last recording, so you can assume a higher level or hatred, anger and frustration has been baked right the fuck into these tunes; it’s simple math.”

So says Québécois crew Cell Press regarding their latest offering — just released earlier this month.

Sounds like a perfect reason to check it out, and why not take a quick peek at that “last recording” they referenced, while we’re at it?

 

LFG!

 

Cell Press – Cages (No List Records / The Ghost is Clear / Ancient Temple Recordings, 08 March 2026)

 

Cell Press – Tabula Rasa (No Why Records, 06 March 2026)

 

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So you all might remember back in 2020 when we talked about the debut release from this group, whose members also find themselves among the ranks of The Great Sabatini, Swarm of Spheres, Biipiigwan (sporadically), and many other local Canadian collectives.

If not, you can certainly be forgiven: with all the shit that has happened since 2020, who knows what the hell is going on anymore?

But anyway, roughly four years later — almost exactly two years ago — these guys birthed a sophomore album Cages that squeezes just over half an hour worth of caustic noise rock into nine angry tracks. Fans of their previous work OR of any of their numerous other projects will not be surprised at the quality of musicianship found here. Intense drumming, grindy (the genre and the descriptor) guitar riffs, hardcore (the genre and the descriptor) vocals.

And ANGRY. As much as I hate repeating myself that’s the word that I keep coming back to more than any other: every word, every syllable, every note, every beat, just bursting from the seams with pent-up aggression and anger that has to get out, no matter what. For examples, see the particularly ascerbic grind-core piece “Dark Side of the North” or its immediate postcessor “JOI to the World” which finds itself gradually becoming more and more enmired into thick and heavy sludge. Or if that doesn’t do it for you, later “Blue Royale” is essentially formless discordant noise; or “Things They Do in France” which kind of rolls all of these extremes together into one epic closing track.

Following a bit of a lineup change — a departing vocalist but the addition of a new fulltime bassist who has taken on a vocal role — fast-forwarding to the present day, the trio now offers a brand-new EP Tabula Rasa that features approximately half the number of tracks (four) and running length (sixteen minutes) but dripping with at least 100% the vitriol. Probably more, and more heavily concentrated.

Right off the bat, the most noticeable difference here is duelling vocals, a gutteral roar coupled with the hardcore shouty parts, that lends itself to a bit of a caveman doom/sludge feel. This vibe has drug the music in a similar direction: somewhat deeper and perhaps sometimes darker (especially in the lengthy and cleverly-titled “Last Aid Kit”); possibly heavier (see the feedback-laden drum showcase of a gruesomely-named final track “Orphan-Crushing Machine”). But without a doubt every bit as angry as before — or as the band themselves have advertised, “a higher level or hatred, anger and frustration.”

 

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Cages digital version can be found here, cassette or vinyl here/vinyl.
 
Tabula Rasa digital version is over here.
 

 

Cell Press: Bandcamp
No List Records: website | Bandcamp
The Ghost is Clear: Bandcamp | merch store
Ancient Temple Recordings: Bandcamp | merch store
No Why Records: Bandcamp