In Rotation: Ritual Control: No Affinity 7-inch

This is a promising early release from the Bay Area hardcore group Ritual Control. Four quick, engaging tunes comprise "No Affinity," the first vinyl release from the band. Ritual Control is female fronted hardcore at its best: these are unrelenting, memorable songs that you can't help but envision being screeched out in a basement somewhere.

Chicago based Residue Records put this 7-inch out in January. They pressed 100 copies on dark yellow vinyl, 100 copies on lime green vinyl and 400 on standard black vinyl. I stumbled upon this recently at Reckless Records and picked it up on a whim. It was described as female-fronted hardcore, which immediately sounded appealing to me. I had heard about the label's two night showcase at Township that weekend, so I was ready to hear more of the Residue's music.

Ritual Control did not play that showcase and it does not appear that they play many shows. They are a fairly new band and while I can find their bandcamp page, I cannot find many other official traces of them online. They put out their first demo in 2013, followed by "No Affinity" in January. "Inoculation," their upcoming EP, comes out in November. Hopefully a tour follows, because I want to see this band thrash through a 20-30 minute set in a basement somewhere. Or a bar. A bar would be fine. Download "No Affinity" at Ritual Control's bandcamp page, or stream it in full below.