10 21st Century Rock/Metal Albums That Never Got A Sequel

“Powerviolence” and “mainstream” aren’t two phrases that have a lot of traditional crossover. The ultra-abrasive off-shoot of hardcore struggled to get airtime on many dedicated rock/punk outlets, often being reserved to dedicated local underground scenes, peaking with rare festival gatherings scattered around Europe and California.

However, in the last few years, a wave of extraordinary powerviolence groups have broken ground and begun cementing themselves as flag-bearers for the genre, taking over the mantle from the likes of Nails and Full of Hell. But before Zulu, Pupil Slicer, END, etc., it all began with Gulch, an explosive five-piece emanating out of Santa Cruz, California.

After immediately becoming the hottest talking point in punk on the back of their debut full EP Burning Desire to Draw Last Breath, Gulch would bide their time before releasing their highly anticipated debut album Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress in 2020. With exceptional ferocity, expert songwriting, and an increasing reputation as a live show, many wondered how far this sonically jarring masterpiece could eventually go.

In short, sadly, not very far at all. Gulch announced their dissolution in 2022, citing in an interview with Kerrang that it was always part of the plan to split at the peak of their powers, and immediately following the inaugural album.