TRENCHRAID is a no-bullshit, D-beat rock'n'roll punk band emerging from the unassuming tranquility of BC's Sunshine Coast.

Formed in the spring of 2022, as the world shook off the sluggish malaise of a two-year pandemic hangover, Trenchraid's arrival is perfectly timed for a pent-up population seeking to purge their collective frustration.

The four members - Hesher (guitar. Mass Grave, Chapel, Fear of Tomorrow) Al (drums. Skraeling, Mothra, Layaway Plan) Patrick (bass. Skladka) and Coleman (vocals) - met at this pivotal moment in history and quickly locked into a shared desire to play straightforward, aggressive punk; music for yelling into the void.

Inspired by the unimpeachable sounds of bands like Motorhead, Discharge, and Poison Idea and following their four-song demo released in the summer of 2022. TRENCHRAID has completed work on their debut full length "War Mentality," which BLOWN OUT MEDIA has released as 50 cassette tapes. Find it at the link in the bio or contact Blown Out Media below.

War Mentality, the raucous debut full-length from Canadian cohort Trenchraid, is a perfect example of how punk can sound bleak as fuck and yet, at the same time, fun as fuck, too. Take a War Mentality track like “Endless War”. The song hurtles along with abundant Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing momentum, but while the doom-mongering grit and grimness of Stoke-On-Trent’s finest is a clear influence on Trenchraid, “Endless War” also features an undercurrent of Motörhead-esque catchiness. Therein lies Trenchraid’s strength; they sound mean as hell, but they also throw in a shout-along, röck’n’röll hooks.

Poison Idea used to do that. As did Anti Cimex. And Trenchraid sounds like both bands channelling Discharge. Much like Trenchraid’s formidable (and highly recommend) 2022 demo, War Mentality explores the endless horrors of global conflict and the myriad frustrations of human existence. Stripped to the bone, War Mentality tracks like “The Hubris of Mankind” and “Disregulated” feature rapid-fire d-beat that’ll obliterate the annoyances of everyday life. Red-raw songs like “In the Wake of the Bomb,” “Never Surrender,” and “Ecocide” are awesome displays of full-force, ferocious punk, with churning bass and sawtooth guitar backed by barking vocals.

War Mentality boils with anger, bile, hate, and hostility. But like the best high-powered punk, rather than being repelled by all that ugliness, Trenchraid’s bulldozing tracks are wholly magnetic. As mentioned, bleak as fuck, but fun as fuck, War Mentality is a foot-to-the-floor ripper.
[Spoilers: War Mentality is a dead cert for my end-of-year list.]
-Craig Hayes, In Crust We Trust Volume 31 Part 2, Last Rites
yourlastrites.com/2023/11/15/in-crust-we-trust-vol-31-part-2/