Turns out a pair of musicians from Oakland's Impaled have an alter ego band called Ghoul, where they can play dress up a la bloodier looking Lordi and still purvey a certain form of crossover thrash-hardcore, less gory but no less tongue-in-cheek than the original Impaled.

A certain degree of playfulness is demonstrated on this release all the way from the title, Intermediate Level Hard-core just doesn't sound very serious, to what is being presented hereby, a number of covers by the less known bands. The opener Americanized (Gwar cover) is punk charged, and very much Discharge-like but with more growl in the voice. The band may get more serious, at least lyrically, on Blow Up the Embassy (Fearless Iranians from Hell), which I believe is about Beirut embassy bombing in mid 80s, from the standpoint of the bomber himself. The EP veers in and out of control, E.M.S.&D. (Willful Neglect) being rather chaotic, laced up with a guitar solo, whereas blasting tends to keep Propaganda Control (N.O.T.A.) more under control, as surprisingly as it may sound.

Whether I am right in my opinion that the beginning of Proud to Be Creepsylvanian spoofs an all-time crowd favorite Rock You Like a Hurricane, I am definitely sure that the rest of this cut is the most melodic on the record and does bring up the references to old Sodom and Kreator. Meanwhile, where this mysterious Creepsylvania is located only the Ghoul themselves know.

An EP not to take too seriously, or so I think anyway, Intermediate Level Hard-core filled its role as an Immediate Level Diversion on my morning ride to work.