The Bad Penny (beta)

Fans of grindcore no doubt are aware that Nequient – arguably Chicago’s greatest contribution to the subgenre – just spat out their third LP two Fridays ago on Nefarious Industries. One of the main themes on the nine-track Avarice fits in comfortably with The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series.

Vocalist Jason Kolkey shows no restraint in lambasting the greedy oligarchs who are stridently, shamelessly and soullessly puppet-mastering the U.S. economy into incalculable and perhaps unsalvageable economic ruin, particularly during Donald Trump’s fascist reign. It’s difficult which is more terrifying, Nequient’s unforgivable brutality or the nauseating avarice of the top 1 percent richest individuals in America.

Kolkey generously carved out some time late last week to elaborate on his highly charged and completely coherent positions with The Bad Penny. Dude knows what he’s talking about … Kolkey earned a PhD in English from Loyola University Chicago, and works as an independent scholar and writer when not declaring war on his vocal cords (and the ultra-wealthy) as the frontman of Nequient.

Avarice also marks the first Nequient album featuring new bassist/ backing vocalist Aaron Roemig (Arbogast, Mine Collapse). Rounding out the band’s lineup is drummer Chris Avgerin and guitar/synths player Patrick Conahan.

If you dig The Bad Penny‘s conversation with Kolkey, take a gander and read On Tyranny editions with like-minded acts Chairmaker, a grindcore project based in Scotland; new death-metal/grindcore band Voidhämmer from Los Angeles; and Finnish grindcore band Rotten Sound.

Check out even more installments of The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series here.

For more on Nequient go to their Bandcamp page, which offers a few pay-what-you-can releases; and the website, YouTube account, Instagram feed and Facebook page for Nefarious Industries.

Catch Nequient on tour supporting their punishing new release, Avarice, starting next month.

June 5: Mickey’s Tavern – Madison, WI w/ Corridoré
June 6: Missfits Tavern Appleton, WI w/ Corridoré, Drillbit
July 9: Dunlap’s Corner Bar – Cleveland, OH w/ Atomic Witch, RST, Casket Splinter
July 10: The Wood Shop – Brooklyn, NY
July 11: TBA – Philadelphia, PA w/ Gridfailure, Sploot
July 12: The Camel – Richmond, VA w/ Sploot
July 13: The Den – Winston-Salem, NC
July 17: The Hidden Gem – Dayton, OH
July 18: North End Pub – Lafayette, IN

This entry was posted on 05/03/2026 at 1:54 pm and is filed under Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, fascism, Jason Kolkey, Nequient, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.