# Gadget / Phobia Split Review
This 2010 split release on Power It Up represents a significant collaborative moment between two respected underground grindcore acts, Gadget and Phobia. Both bands had established themselves within the extreme metal and grindcore scenes, bringing their distinct approaches to brutality and sonic intensity to this shared vinyl project.
Gadget contributes six tracks that showcase their uncompromising grindcore aesthetic, emphasizing technical precision alongside raw aggression. Opening with "Torture" and moving through standout cuts like "Leaders Of The (Rat) Pack" and "Repentance," the band demonstrates why they command respect in the grindcore underground. Their material balances chaotic energy with calculated songwriting, never sacrificing impact for accessibility.
Phobia's side mirrors this dedication to unrelenting heaviness while maintaining their own identity. Their six tracks, beginning with "Life With Defiance" and concluding with the aptly titled "Drown In Sorrow," demonstrate a band equally committed to the genre's confrontational spirit. Songs like "Pressure" and "Own Worst Enemy" deliver crushing riffs alongside the dissonant chaos fans expect from the format.
Throughout the 14-track runtime, both bands push boundaries within the grindcore framework, treating rock and metal foundations as launching points for exploration rather than constraints. The split format allows each ensemble adequate space to develop their vision while creating a cohesive listening experience. For vinyl collectors seeking serious underground grindcore with substance beyond mere noise, this Power It Up release deserves prominent shelf space. The collaboration captures a moment when both acts were operating at peak creative intensity.
