by: Troy Bennett

Purchase on digital copies on Bandcamp.

Released on July 31st, 2026.

Little Rock is a very well versed city in heavy music. Giving birth to bands such as Rwake, Pallbearer and Terminal Nation. A city welcoming both “old heads” and a growing hardcore scene fostering a younger generation of music appreciators and musicians. It seems like every month more and more bands are popping up creating a variety of notes, melodies and messages.

I’m very grateful to have recently discovered .HORSE FUNERAL. attending a show at the now defunct DIY space “The Church of Heresy.” The songs are abrasive and different and contain all the elements of things I love about music. I was even more stoked when I saw the band was recording a debut self-titled ep. It’s a very quick listen with each song averaging about 2 minutes.

The riffs are very exploratory and the drums, played by Andy Burns and bass, played by Nelly Henry stay locked in melody gluing all of the chaos together in a perfect way. This album has a frenetic energy that almost cannot be described, but I’d still say a screamo/mathcore adjacent proxy label is appropriate.

I won’t say I have a favorite track because they are all quite enjoyable. I will say the one that I find myself re-listening to is “Casket City” if only for the poppy, dissonant guitar played by Natalie Wright that marks a strange course from start to finish of the track. The dueling vocals between Rachel Naomi Stoll and Nelly also helps create a frenzied vibe on this track that really makes it a repeatable listen for me.

Tracked/mixed and mastered by a friend to all in the Little Rock music scene; Jason Tedford at Wolfman Studios. This album is a true testament to the creative spirit of the Arkansas and Little Rock music scene and community. Please support the band directly by picking up the ep either on cassette or at their Bandcamp.