After the resounding success of their debut album Copper Blue, Sugar followed up with the Beaster EP in 1993.

Unlike the pop sound of their previous release, Beaster found the group experimenting with a much darker,
heavier sound. Highlights include 'Tilted' which Steregum hailed as "possibly the best song in Mould's entire catalog" and the epic 'JC Auto' described by Pitchfork as ranking with 'anything on In Utero in terms of sheer force'.