Blast(beat) from the Past: Denak

Denak
Grindcore
Cooperaccion
Having lavaged expectorate of a sycophantic nature all over Looking for an Answer and Nashgul, it’s time to step back and correct a major oversight. I need to recognize one of the true foundational bands of Spanish grindcore. I’m talking about motherfucking Denak. They were a band so goddamned awesome they simply titled their 7-inch compendium Grindcore because that’s pretty much all you need to know about them: they played grindcore. And those fuckers played it pretty damn well.
LFAA and Nashgul’s festering apple didn’t fall far from this corroded tree (and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to hear Afgrund have a few choice Denak EPs tucked away in their collection). Denak’s songs are fast, punky, static-flayed and ionized with an electric intensity. Denak played grindcore like it was fired from a railgun. The secret warhead in Denak’s arsenal was the Witte-grade drumming of Juan, who was bondage gear tight but graceful and fluid with his spot on frills on songs like “Carlos Torio” or the all blasts/wailing/cymbal crashing “Solo.”

Denak – “Solo”

Over 38 tracks (and two thoroughly pointless and annoying noise remixes), Denak tick off every requirement for a grind band, but do it with a flawless professionalism. Guitars buzz like wet hornets (“!M.E.T.P. No!”) and subterranean roars build a foundation for star screaming shrieking. Though it’s a collection of early works, Grindcore is pretty damn consistent. The disparate collection of splits and 7-inches manages to cohere into a satisfying listening experience on its own.
Denak’s influence, though not as heralded as some, still rattles through grindcore, if you know where to look.

Nashgul ---- “Estado de Bienestar (Denak)”

P.L.F. ---- “Siempre Yo (Denak)”