«Need to Control» is the second album by Brutal Truth, released on 25 October 1994 through Earache Records. The New York band had been put together by bassist Dan Lilker, known from Anthrax and Nuclear Assault. It is the first record with drummer Richard Hoak, who stayed with the band until its end.
“`Country: United States
Style: Grindcore
For fans of: Napalm Death, Terrorizer, Carcass
The sound is grindcore, but far from monotonous: inside the short bursts there is room for experimental passages, slow heavy parts and noise. Kevin Sharp’s vocals range from raspy screams to deeper, threatening registers, Brent McCarty’s guitar has sharp edges, and Lilker’s bass carries real weight.
«Collapse» opens the album, while «Ordinary Madness», «Brain Trust», «I See Red» and «Media Blitz» stand out. The tracks are short, yet the record flows in a way that holds you from start to finish.
What makes «Need to Control» special is that it takes the genre a step further without losing intensity. Brutal Truth do not settle for speed — they try structures and sounds you would not expect from a grindcore album of the era.
The record was recorded in two New York studios, Baby Monster and Platinum Island. Brutal Truth stayed known for their uncompromising stance, and «Need to Control» showed they could be innovative without turning easy.
The album remains a reference point for the more experimental side of grindcore and proved how far the genre can be stretched without losing its rage. For fans of extreme music, it is one of those records that demonstrate speed is not all that matters.
