It is always nice to get the full CD for review, so you see the whole package but quite whose genius idea it was to have a the shiniest black insert cover possible with dark grey text on it is either taking the piss or just wants us all to try very hard to read the text, which I didn’t unfortunately. Second moan is the cover art which is far too amateurish and very cheesy. Thankfully those aberrations are more than compensated for with the bands technical math grind which is quite staggering in places.
These Floridian grinders start their five track EP frenetically with “Frontier Justice” a technical blur of whirlwinding leads and riffs, matched by the equally chaotic drumming style. The sound lacks bass which is typical for this style as the guitar riffs and leads are relentless. There is little in the way of any discernible tune to speak of as the blur of riffs continues into “Calculate Your Escape” as I missed the actual change on first listen such is the continuity employed. The music is brutally technical matching the exhibitionism of say Brain Drill with the math fury of say Dillinger Escape Plan.
“Choking The Sloth” has some bizarre electronics infiltrating the mix which just add to the bedlam and vicious intensity that courses through every song. The schizophrenic guitar tantrums are manifested as quirky tech runs as the electronics reappear from nowhere. I absolutely loved the start of “F.U.B.A.R.B.Q.” which reminded me of Pig Destroyer’s more weird moments, with some wacky tangential riff annihilation. The song is probably the most frantic on the EP as it bounces from one riff and melody to another with absolutely no formula or pattern to explain it. The EP closes with “Sock Puppet Vendetta”, equally demented as I detected the odd Nile moment in the leads. The drops in pace are nothing compared to the waltz beat that appears making you feel you’re in a German market town near Christmas, as the brass instrumentation add further ammunition to my comparison.
This divergent math grind workout is the perfect antidote to mainstream mediocrity in metal these days. There is no pattern, no formula, no actual tune to grind your teeth away to but it does have more riffs and leads than most metalcore acts will have in their entire careers. Not for the faint hearted or unadventurous. Be brave.
http://www.myspace.com/quarterthevillain
