4 out of 5

Label: Skin Graft

Produced by: The Governor (mixed by)

Sometimes when I’m reviewing metal, or hardcore, or noise, and I find myself stretching to appreciate what a group or individual is doing while not necessarily being able to connect with the material in a way other reviewers are… I wonder if I’m jaded. That maybe I’m not appreciating “heavy” music because I’ve already heard the heaviest stuff out there, and so how else can you add to that; in the same way a horror movie fan – I’m also that – might question what else there is to see after three Centipede movies and etc.

But, of course, there’s always something new, and intention – and creativity, and passion – can add much to a project.

Skin Graft has been venturing into some especially noisy territory as of late – somewhat calling back to early efforts – and the first couple I grabbed were good but maybe not great, leading to the above question. Am I Done? I start to panic; Are My Ears Too Old?

But no: CUNTROACHES are here to terrify me and rattle my bones all over again, creating massive destruction of music with three musicians, breaking my ear drums in a way that delights me: waves and waves of reverbed vocals and pounding drums and guitar, and I’m just realizing I was listening to Skullflower today, and boy howdy, that’s some good company.

Borborygmus appeared in an abbreviated form on Skin Graft’s recent (and excellent) Halloween comp; I enjoyed it there, but it’s inclusion on its lonesome, as surrounded by other greats, doesn’t necessarily sell the fuller picture painted by its extended take here, which builds and kills over its six minutes and somehow finds ways to ebb and flow within an always-loud setup. This is primarily what impressed me throughout the album, that it mostly maintains a level of intensity, and then the trio works out rhythms and patterns from that already incensed started point, the percussion especially making an impression – I’d say kudos to the production, mix and master for keeping a sharpness to the instrumentation; akin to allowing thunder to poke through the clouds – and stabs of guitar and phrases you can vaguely map to song titles crystallizing and then retreating. It’s noise; but it is music, absolutely, becoming more and more formed as you return to it.

The sequencing is the only hiccup. I can understand starting off with Borborygmus as a kind of level-setter, but B-side’s Gravity System has a long, ambient stretch that opens it up that may’ve served as a better opener, as the stretch rather kills the momentum until the track gets to its point of explosion. Even if you are doing the LP experience, it’s a weird pause. Pauses can be good with noise, this is just a bit too much, and though it’s paired with the relatively accessible I Can (Still) Tell You’re (Scum) as probably an intentional followup – trying to get us back in the swing of things – the pacing of the album is nonetheless hindered a tad.

That aside, I’m back in. CUNTROACHES have rescued me from questioning if my ears are too old for this business, and I’m ready for as much of this as the band can dole out.