21 Spins – Pursuit: Earth Created Humans Because It Wanted Plastic (EP)

• https://pursuitfargo.bandcamp.com/
• Release Date: 03/28/2025
• Signaturetone Studios / Adam Tucker / https://signaturetonerecording.com/ 
• Tags: death metal, extreme metal, metal, thrash metal, minnesota, north dakota, Fargo

Sound/Mix

The sound/mix is solid all around. I listened to this on headphones, in my truck, and on a small Wonderboom portable (Due to some illnesses and work schedules, I was not able to crank it on our Vizio M21D, but, I think that is OK). In the truck and on headphones the depth and clarity were high quality, and all tracks balanced out well across the album. Of note is the power of the low end in the drums and bass, with a slight backing off of the vocals, allowing the guitars to fill in the airspace between. All is crisp and clear.

Performance

The entire performance is extremely tight and polished. This EP holds seven tracks that clock in at under 13:00. However, each exists in a sort of microcosm of condensed metallic elements that leaves nothing really wanting (for fans of the above tags).  Brevity and brutality at its finest. Every song includes some insane blast and thrash beats, countered by slow, grindy, deathly chugs, with snippets of bass/drum grooves to catch a breather before the riffs crunch in. Guitar “solo” type portions are kept to a classy minimalism; heavy power slides, dive bombs and squeals, and short shreds. Across multiple listens it dawned on me that the theatrics are laced throughout and embedded within riffs, providing another, subtle level of detail accenting the rhythm and vocals. These are complex tunes despite their short play times. You will be left wanting more.

Highlights

“One Below All” into “Earth Created Humans Because It Wanted Plastic”. “One Below All” contains all of the stylistic components described above, and the merger directly into the title track with the eerie ambient sounds of birds and insects competing with industrial/tech glitches captures the essence of the concept behind this album – https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/251836-we-re-so-self-important-everybody-s-going-to-save-something-now-save 

Shade

It is short. The first few listens I found myself checking my phone to see what happened and why a track glitched out and skipped ahead. My teenage daughter remarked, “What the heck!? Why would they spend all that time practicing and recording and the songs aren’t even a minute long??” I agree – Just as you start to get into some of this stuff, it is over. Pursuit always keeps it brutal and brief, but it was a bit distracting in a couple instances on this EP. 

Summary

Pursuit has enough of a catalogue to stand behind to justify the short songs, and it gives them some room to elaborate a bit more and show off when they play them live (fingers crossed). As far as live shows go, this is one of the more brutal (and scary) bands out there. This album = the raw power they have on stage.

21 Spins. Written by Æræder