2 out of 5

Label: Hydra Head

Producer: Christopher Pierce (recorded by)

“No triggers or special FX were used in this recording.”  Of course.  Okay, my bad for having some expectations based on the Allmusic blurb on Gridlink… but I do feel that I had a realistic grasp on what this disc could be, and to my ears it just didn’t sync up.  With members of Discordance Axis, Hayaino Daisuki, Kill the Client, and other related projects, you at least know you’re in for some ear-rattlin’ mad thrash noise.  What the review got me hyped about was thinking that the compositions would be a bit more deviously structured, but except for a couple of notable highlights, even at 11 minutes (over 11 tracks) a lot of the songs tend to blend together.  Screamed vocals of this pitch can’t carry much tonal variety, so you’re left to mix shit up with your pacing.  But when you have less than a minute to do so, options become even more limited.  I mean, taken on a simple assessment of aggression and speed, this is tops – and in a smaller, easier to digest pill than some of the other groups named might offer.  Still, it’s mostly the same blazingly fast drum thwack with the same-sounding shout, then a too-quick-to-discern guitar bridge or solo, then end.  The album is at its best – and most impressive – when the madness is juxtaposed by slowing everything down for a moment, something the group excellently employs on track 2 – ‘3 Miles Below Sea Level’ – and its followup, ‘The Jenova.’  ‘Antiheist’ is another highlight, creating tension but keeping the pace high by dropping one element (vocals, high hats, guitar) from the forefront of the mix and swapping it out for another.  I can actually tell when these songs are beginning and ending and they get enough of a groove going to actually headbang.  The rest of it is incredibly impressive and the no-bones production actually makes it surprising palatable to the ears, but in terms of milking a legit listening experience out of it, your mileage may vary.