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Split EP review: MDOP / Cemetery Girls – “Asymmetrical Warfare”

by

Indolent Records – 16 Mar 2025

Michigan punks team up for a one-two punch of an EP

If you’ve been around underground music for long enough, you’ve inevitably seen it go through cycles. One style might be up, while another is down. It’s the natural ebb and flow of things. While classic punk seems to be in a bit of a downswing lately, hardcore is back to thriving. Hardcore shows with a decent mix of legacy acts and young guns are bringing 50-somethings and teenagers to the same gigs. The Asymmetrical Warfare 7” features a couple of those hungry up-and-coming bands from Michigan.

MDOP from Grand Rapids get side A. “Cardinal Sin” starts out with a slow, doomy bass intro before eventually speeding up, kicking into double time, then working back through the cycle. The shifting of speeds on MDOP’s four tracks never lets the listener get too comfortable. “The Path”, “S.B.P.” and “Fuck Peace” feature vocals that range from a raw hardcore howl, to a low death metal growl. Musically they occasionally let themselves settle into a short groove, before blast-beating out with grindcore intensity. Good, angry stuff.

On side B, Detroit’s Cemetery Girls definitely have their own unique take on hardcore. They’re not nearly as heavy as MDOP, but the mostly spoken vocals are undeniably confrontational. “Body Grenade”, “Immortal Bitch” and “Shook Ones Pt.3” pull no punches. Musically, Cemetery Girls play sometimes melodic but heavy rock and roll, with some hardcore chugging thrown in for good measure. The words are delivered with a confidence that seems like it’s coming from a band with much more experience. It’s challenging in all the right ways. 

Even if the old guys stand in the back and shake their heads at the way the kids dance, most are glad to see younger people do their own thing. Hardcore doesn’t belong to 1984. It needs new bands and fresh ideas to survive. Overall, Asymmetrical Warfare is a really cool snapshot of a healthy Michigan hardcore scene circa 2025. Check it out. 

For vinyl fiends: Very nice 7” packaging from Indolent Records, with heavy duty cover and insert. It’s available in red, pink, and red with pink, but is limited to a total of 200 in all variants. Don’t sleep on it.