Review: Jack Price
Alright kids, grab your anime kitty headphones, throw on your tech-wear OOTD, and get ready to be sad. And happy. At the same time. Because HEALTH’s new record is going to punish you harder than Elden Ring on NG+7. And if you don’t know what that means, neither do I — but what I do know is CONFLICT DLC goes fucking hard.
From their captivating live performances to their outstanding meme-age Instagram page, to their risqué merch drops, the trio of cum-metal kings continue to weave rage, anxiety, and depression into industrial bangers on their latest offering for their legions of ahegao-faced fans.
The music — sadder.
The vibe — hornier.
The record — outstanding.
Guitarist and vocalist Jake Duzsik has upped his vocal game since Rat Wars, as Ordinary Loss whispers into life with his sultry, innocent voice echoing through clouds of synth. Within seconds, the audience is pummeled by blasting drums, hammering guitars, and intense synth tones. The HEALTH-iness of their sound remains untainted, but the hate has been turned all the way up to “fuck right off.” The ebb and flow of the track sways like a tsunami in a cosplay nightclub. As the second chorus ends, the tempo drops into a crushing rhythm as guest vocals from Leo of Street Sects enter with a shrieking, trilling edge that sends shivers down the audience’s spine.
The vocal effects layered with lightly distorted guitar tones create a mystical, ethereal feel around Duzsik’s already sickly-sweet voice throughout the record. With themes of loss, regret, angst, and wrath, CONFLICT DLC has instantly become HEALTH’s secret weapon. The vulnerability in Jake’s melodic choir is balanced by the head-wrecking battering of BJ Miller’s infectious percussion and Johnny Famiglietti’s droning bass — all wrapped in a hefty layer of full cyberpunk synth.
A stand-out track for me sits slap-bang in the middle of the madness: ANTIDOTE. While its soothing melody and calming vocals are a refreshing break from the chaos — and the lyrical composition wildly contrasts that serenity — Johnny described it as a “save room,” with menu-clicking at the end of the track signifying the saving of a game. This small Easter egg (for all you gamers) adds to the immersive atmosphere of the record while also harbouring the idea of reality’s legitimacy. Is it all just a game? Are we all just slaves to the machine?
As a relatively new HEALTH fan, there’s a certain familiarity in their sound — a subconscious white noise pulled to the surface. It’s equal parts enticing, terrifying, comforting, and pleasurable. CONFLICT DLC is a record birthed to sucker-punch new people into the mosh pit with tracks like SHRED ENVY, bringing the pity-party vibes with its dancey “I wish I’d never been born” chorus, while songs like TRASH DECADE would slot perfectly into any HIIT or powerlifting playlist — like Johnny in an Evangelion bodysuit at a con (iykyk).
Something prevents the HEALTH beast from being contained within a genre-based box. It’s special. It’s indescribable. And while their work up until this album has solidified their foundations, CONFLICT DLC is set to shred open a new path for HEALTH. The record is familiar yet fresh, inspired and powerful, chaotic and provocative, raw and refined. Everything that HEALTH is resides in this album, clawing with razor talons to fester in your ear holes.
Jake, BJ, Johnny, and everyone who supported the album’s conception, production, and release have delivered sad-happy tears of horniness with this absolute monstrosity of a record. The HEALTH boys are laser-etching their way through the digital age of depression and doomscrolling addiction, breaking barriers and paving a new path for industrial music.
Watch some damn anime, kids.
Fuck your Skibidi Toilets and 6–7’s.
Viva La Cum Metal.
CONFLICT DLC, out December 11th 2025 via Loma Vista Recordings.
Pre-save CONFLICT DLC here: https://i.hlth.band/
