From Singapore to Orange County, Wormrot Are Masters of Grind

Featuring photos by Goody JamesConcert Review

May 12

If you aren’t a fan of grindcore, you might recognize Wormrot from the “grind goat” video that went viral over a decade ago. If you are a fan of the genre, however, chances are that you recognize them as the Singaporean band that has pushed the limits of the “grindcore” label over the course of their “all killer, no filler” discography.

Formed in 2007, Wormrot released an EP and a couple of tracks on compilation albums that same year. Their 2009 full-length album, “Abuse,” landed them a record deal with Earache, who went on to release their next three albums. In 2015, the band announced the departure of their original drummer, Fitri, who was then replaced by Vijesh Ghariwala.

2022’s “Hiss,” the band’s most recent album, broadened the scope of the grindcore genre. It might not seem like violins and clean vocals have a place on an album full of blast beats and demonic shrieks, but Wormrot blends these elements seamlessly. Their vocalist, Arif, utilizes a vast arsenal of screams and shouts, while their guitarist, Rasyid, has no shortage of riffs.

Although grindcore can seem like a formulaic genre at times, this sonic range is part of what makes Wormrot so great. Arif announced his departure from the band shortly before “Hiss” was released. Implore’s Gabriel Dubko then stepped in to handle vocals for the band’s touring schedule. The band announced last summer that guitarist Rasyid would be reuniting with Arif and Fitri.

All photos by Goody James

Wormrot is currently touring the United States with its original lineup for the first time since 2011. At the Orange Country stop of their 2025 “Scums” North American tour, Wormrot played at the Locker Room in Garden Grove. The indoor venue is located at the Garden Amp and is a great place for an intimate show. Homegrown, Gxllium!, No/Más, and Skullcrack opened up the night.

To see Wormrot live is to witness functional anarchy: people crowd surf, jump around, mosh, and pick each other up off the ground with smiles on their faces, and there is no better soundtrack. For the better part of an hour, Rasyid tore through one riff after another, tapping into thrash, punk, and hardcore, but always maintaining the grind. Fitri looked effortless as he squeezed groovy fills in between blast beats and controlled the chaos by signaling tight starts and stops. Arif’s voice sounded as brutal as ever, and Wormrot played a blistering set of songs spanning their discography.

Wormrot’s 2025 “Scums” North American tour will continue through the end of May. They are joined by Oxygen Destroyer and No/Más. There hasn’t been any word on how long Wormrot will be performing with the original lineup, so American fans should take the opportunity to see them on this tour.

The band also recorded a live set at TNT Music Centre in Singapore last October, and they’ve been selling vinyl copies of the release at their merch table. This collection of revisited material is a testament to how solid Wormrot sounds on their current tour. Give it a listen and go see Wormrot in a city near you!