“Meteoric” isn’t even the right word to describe the rise of Escuela Grind out of the basements of New England and right on to the top of the modern metal scene.  It’s no secret that we at Nine Circles Dot Co, and especially myself, are and have been enormous fans of the grind quartet for a hot minute, but their recent releases have been far beyond a cut above.  The quality and innovation of their work has been exponentially increasing with each rapid release, and it should be a small wonder why they are household names at this point.  Dreams on Algorithms is another step up in a continued series of triumphs.

Dreams on Algorithms comes hot on the heels of 2022’s debut Memory Theater, which, I guess is the band’s “proper” debut, but they have been grinding it out (quite literally) for many years, steadily pushing out singles and EPs before and between their full-length releases.  Consistency and a lack of complacency have always been the calling cards of Escuela Grind, and their devastatingly brutal compositions have only been getting more razor sharp, and their socially and politically charged lyrics have only been getting more timely.  On the musical end of the spectrum, the band finally gets the chance to work with the legendary Kurt Ballou at Salem, MA’s own GodCity Studio.  If hearing those words automatically gives you an idea of what this album sounds like, good.  It sounds absolutely killer, and Ballou’s signature touch is all over the blistering guitars and drums, and especially the vocals of frontwoman extraordinaire Katerina Economou.  Her delivery on Dreams has improved considerably from the, frankly, excellent work she did on Memory Theater.  Her place very clearly is behind the microphone, on stage and in front of a crowd, and all of Dreams on Algorithms has the vibe of an intimate live recording.  Perhaps that’s because much of Dreams was written on the road, in that true rock-and-roll fashion: composed in a shitty, beat up van, rehearsed at soundchecks in various cities across the country, and finalized in front of crowds of new and old fans.  Lyrically, the album touches on themes of consumption in the 21st century, the online world invading our subconscious, and the connection between dreams and the technology that follows us around all day.

“We are no longer interested in meeting the standards of niche genres. Writing music that draws from our own personal tastes helps the crowds get to know us when they come to see us play,” says Economou.  And she’s right: Dreams on Algorithms is Escuela Grind shedding the confines of genre and just playing the music that they love.  And yes, a lot of it is death metal, powerviolence and grindcore (the holy trinity), but if that’s what they love, then that’s what they’re going to do.  The love and dedication to the craft that’s poured into Dreams is the first, most obvious thing I noticed in listening to this album.  It has an energy and a sound that are very much what I believe seeing Escuela Grind is like (please come back to Chicago, but not on a weeknight!).  The guitars and vocals are very in your face, and the battery of the rhythm section has never been tighter, effortlessly shifting through d-beats, blasts and frenzy-inducing pit stomps.  Perhaps the biggest influence, even if it’s not patently obvious, is the friendship forged between Escuela Grind and the almighty Napalm Death.  Touring with them has clearly lit a fire under the New England quartet; they have stepped up to the challenge of warming up the crowd for one of the most celebrated metal bands ever with untouchable grace, and in return it seems that a little bit of that NxDx magic has rubbed off on them.  Even the brand-new clean vocals featured on closer “Turbulence” are inspired by the impromptu sing-along sessions Escuela Grind had with Napalm Death on their recent tour.

Everything about Dreams on Algorithms is a step up for Escuela Grind, but that should be no surprise, coming from a band that continually ups their game.  Doing their own thing and chasing their passions freely, though, is the smartest decision they have made so far in their blossoming career.  Dreams on Algorithms is a blast to listen to, and you can tell immediately that this is an album that is made by and for live shows.  They’ve always been high up on my list of bands to catch, but this album cements them firmly at the top.

-Ian

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Dreams on Algorithms is out October 18 on MNRK Heavy.  For more information on Escuela Grind, visit their Facebook page.