Youth Code – Yours, With Malice | EP Review

Gnarly and snarling extended play from returning LA industrial duo Youth Code, built from the minds of multi-instrumentalists Sara Taylor and Ryan George.

Conceived in the harsh hardcore punk scene and further jettisoned into the shadowy realms of industrial’s underbelly, Los Angeles’ Youth Code have always seemed to embrace various elements of darkness and make it their own.  Their first material in four years, Yours, With Malice is the latest output from the duo of vocalist Sara Taylor and keyboardist/programmer Ryan George.  Notching up highly coveted support slots to the likes of AFI, Chelsea Wolfe and even My Chemical Romance, the hard work is paying dividends as they jump from Dais over to Sumerian Records.

There is no denying that there are strong and significant influences from the roster of Chicago’s seminal WaxTrax! Records here on this EP, however, this is more a modern and rebooted sound and has the venom delivered through a new set of fangs.  It nods to the Industrial originators such Ministry, Skinny Puppy and others but is certainly by no means an imitator here.  The sound is gnashing and adrenaline pumping, much like Nine Inch Nails’ Broken EP.  Whilst easy to draw comparisons to the works of Trent Reznor and co, this is a more refined and sharper tool in its delivery.  The stomping EBM (electro body music) energy never lets up on the duration of the five tracks here. And do not let the lack of a traditional band structure fool you.  This is a biting record that doesn’t pull punches.

Lead single ‘No Consequences’ blasts straight out of the gate with grinding beats and jarring synths. ‘In Search Of Tomorrow’ has brief shimmers of dark wave and introspection that contrast against Sara Taylor’s rasping screams.  No sign of clean signing here at all.  ‘Make Sense’ rattles with an anthemic post-’85 Depeche Mode style chorus with a nightshade touch of melody.  Make no mistake, this is a very sonically dark EP.  Almost as dark as Alice In Chains’ groundbreaking EP Jar of Flies.  This is equally bleak but sonically much heavier.

George’s time in hardcore bands such Carry On lends the almost DIY and middle-finger-to-authority aesthetics set against the backdrop of musically and socially diverse city such as LA. This is dark and gritty, perfect for such a sprawling city.

With the likes of Skinny Puppy and Ministry calling it a day, it is promising to see modern industrial music still present and able to hammer away to new generations along with the likes of HEALTH, Drab Majesty & Street Sects leading the way. A short sharp shock of an EP that can soundtrack the dark dance floors, a welcome return here from Youth Code.