Dystopia 'The Aftermath'

Originally released in 1999, The Aftermath is a defining release from Dystopia, the California band whose bleak collision of crust punk, sludge, doom, and hardcore became hugely influential across the underground.

The original Aftermath 12" contained four sprawling tracks, including “Population Birth Control,” “Father’s Gun,” “Self Defeating Prophecy,” and “Sleep.” This expanded 2xLP edition goes considerably further, collecting those recordings alongside material from the Backstabber 7", Dystopia’s split LP with Skaven, and their split 7" with Suffering Luna.

Across 12 tracks, Dystopia pair crushing low-end and dissonant sludge with the urgency of crust and anarcho-punk, creating music that feels oppressive, desperate, and intensely physical. Songs including “Backstabber,” “They Live,” “Jarhead Fertilizer,” “Taste Your Own Medicine,” and “Diary of a Battered Child” have become essential pieces of the band’s catalog.

Originally released by Life Is Abuse, The Aftermath documents Dystopia during the height of their 1990s output and remains one of the most important releases to emerge from the intersection of American crust punk and sludge metal.

This Tankcrimes 2xLP edition expands the release to 12 tracks and includes a 16-page booklet and digital download.