Gridlink

Gridlink stand among grindcore’s most revered acts, delivering the style’s signature speed, force, and exactitude while introducing tonal shading, dynamic range, and emotional depth rarely found among their contemporaries. Although the band originated in New Jersey, its sound and personnel became deeply entwined with Japan; guitarist Takafumi Matsubara resides there, and the group tracked its third album, 2014’s Longhena, in that country, an effort widely hailed as its masterpiece. Gridlink had declared Longhena its final statement, yet after a nine-year absence the musicians reconvened to produce an equally ferocious follow-up, 2023’s Coronet Juniper.

Jon Chang assembled Gridlink once his prior outfit, Discordance Axis, dissolved in 2001. While the new project drew only modest local support in New Jersey, it cultivated a devoted following in Japan and performed there repeatedly. During one of those visits Chang encountered Takafumi Matsubara, already known for his work in Mortalized and Hayaino Daisuki; Matsubara entered the lineup in 2004. With drummer Bryan Fajardo aboard, the trio began shaping material and issued its debut, Amber Gray, on Hydra Head in 2008. The record quickly earned underground acclaim, prompting the addition of bassist Teddy Patterson and second guitarist Stephen Procopio to form a quintet. That configuration recorded the second album, Orphan, also released by Hydra Head in 2011; its title track later appeared in an episode of the Showtime series Homeland, underscoring a scene of harsh interrogation. Procopio departed in 2013 and therefore does not feature on the third LP, Longhena. Universally regarded as Gridlink’s pinnacle and among the decade’s finest grindcore releases, Longhena included guest vocals from Paul Pavlovich of Assuck, yet the album also marked the end of the band’s initial run. Years afterward, Willowtip Records contacted Chang regarding a possible remix collection; conversations between Chang and Matsubara about that project evolved into plans for fresh recordings intended as bonus tracks, which in turn sparked a full reunion featuring the return of Fajardo on drums and the addition of bassist Mauro Cordoba. The resulting fourth album, Coronet Juniper, appeared in September 2023.