American quintet I Am Become Death crashed into the Boston hardcore scene in the early 2010s with their brutally powerful delivery and topical lyrics. Taking its name from a quote in the Bhagavad Gita -- later popularized by J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atom bomb -- the band comprises vocalist Kyle Neeson, guitarists Steve Trombley and Oliver Hinds, bassist Erik Wormwood, and drummer Jason Seaver. With throat-shredding screams, distorted fuzz, and pummeling drums, they debuted with the self-titled I Am Become Death EP in 2014. After taking a short break to focus on family and lineup shuffles, the group returned in 2017 with its second effort, Unfortunate Anthems and Songs of No Hope (Magnetic Eye Records), which contained themes of political unrest, rallies against conformity and the status quo, and the anti-Trump anthem "Foe." ~ Neil Z. Yeung