Charlotte nerdcore group The ThoughtCriminals have gone through a lineup change recently, essentially scaling back the group to the duo of Mikal kHill and Sulfur. While their next full length album is due out this winter, they’ve just released a four song EP, both to tide fans over and to raise funds to cover their trip to Nerdapalooza in Orlando. It’s over before you know it, but it delivers exactly what you want from them.

The EP kicks off with “FEEL GOOD SONG,” which is some great old school hip hop fun, and will be sure to find it’s way into deejay sets for those looking for a new party rocker. Big funky drums, a great Fender Rhodes riff, some fun nostalgic rhymes about growing up with hip hop…it’s a formula that works. “Punch, Up” brings in the 8-bit samples and gets into the nerdcore territory they’re known for, with some smart battle raps that move from nerdy to socially relevant, with my personal favorite moment coming when kHill invites all the homophobes to suck his balls. There’s also a ton of video game references, and I’m sure fans will have fun parsing them all out. “Storm The Castle” continues on the video game 8-bit tip, with a nice swagger to the production, and features a cameo from Adam WarRock on the chorus. Things close out with “Loaded Question,” which while continuing on the 8-bit sound, changes the tone up, becoming a bit more serious and introspective, and provides a nice moment of vulnerability from them. It rounds out the short collection of songs quite nicely.

It’s a short EP, but it gets to the point. You have some fun, you think, and you get a nice moment of emotional connection. Not bad for a teaser/fundraiser.