4 out of 5

Label: Brutal Panda

Produced by: Gabe Van

Well, dang.  A little more straight ahead than the fantastically pummeling I (or self-titled), INTRCPTR’s II two-songer again combines the noisy rumble of 5ive, via guitarist Ben Carr, with Pelican’s indie stoner rock, via drummer Larry Herweg.  While I’d say the former release switched off between moments that sounded like one band or the other, both songs here find something that’s more fully meshed together.  Pared down to only these two tracks – the loudest moments of which sound somewhat similar – we don’t necessarily get to flesh that concept out, but it’s a ridiculously exciting pairing that we hopefully get to hear evolve on a future release.

Dusted, the opener, kicks off with some practice strums before rumbling full steam ahead; backer D.I.W.I.W.Y.L. is a masterpiece of buildup layering, stuttering it’s way toward a similar barrage and then offering some zig-zaggy breakdowns at the tail end.

When so much awesome rawk noise can be created by just two guys, it makes you wonder why any instrumental act needs more than that.