Ah it’s me old muckers The Rotted, all grown up and sensible compared to how some of the members started treading the boards in their youthful outfits. I shall dispense with the history lesson though apart from saying that if you frequent live musical shows of an extreme nature and have been doing so for the last decade and a half in the UK you are bound to have bumped into and been terrorized by one of these reprobates at least once. The group seem to have really solidified and become a lot tighter (not in the not getting a round in sense either) of late and despite bassist Tim Carley’s finger crushing incident have managed to deliver their opus horrendous in the form of Ad Nauseum, an album that solidifies them at the top of their game.
What that game is, is open to debate I hasten to add, you cannot call The Rotted anything as simple as ‘death metal’ as you will hear. crust, d-beat, punk, death, grind, metal, oi and anarchy ridden filth, all crop up in a riotous assembly during the course of this mortar bomb of an album. Since last disc the group are now a quartet and have scared off former label Metal Blade and absconded to Candlelight. It is very quickly evident on pressing play that this has done them no harm at all.
I have gone out of my way not to listen to singer Ben McCrow’s online descriptions of what the individual songs are about before reviewing, I will have a listen later. I have to say though that the song titles are as inventive as ever. Anarchogram Sun for instance obviously reminds a bit title wise of Telegram Sam and pays attention to the last EP from the group and its cleverly constructed Anarchogram sign. This sign is one members of the band have had the conviction to get tattooed with; by one of their own members the Rev Trudgill himself naturally. Expect to see it on walls everywhere as the apocalypse hastens. There is no denying the fact that one play and this bastard is going to be branding itself on you straight away. After a nice jangling chord the song rocks out and bruises in with McCrow’s formidable growl behind it. This has a great yobbish mindset and steel toe-capped melody which stomps steadily on your head as it lays out a mid-paced groove. Backing higher pitched yells help drive it along and it’s a great opening salvo. If you want a shot of speed you will find it in the riotous cavalcade of ‘Rex Oblivione’ which has a killer commanding chorus thrown in as it rattles off at breakneck pace. I really loved ‘Surrounded By Skulls’ on very first listen and it shows that the group have lots of ideas and love throwing them in one seething melting pot. It’s got a bit of a hardcore Oi vibe to it, skinheads marching on as it bounces along shaved skull banging away in furious time to it.
I would love to mention every song as each has its own identity and there is not an ounce of fat on this meaty beast but I shall hone things down a little. Other tracks that particularly make an impact include the grinding, winding tumult of ‘Just Ad Nauseum’ which got its bloody debut and caused complete carnage at this years Bloodstock. The mentally entitled and battered out on a welter of Nate Gould’s drum blasts ‘Entering The Arena Of The Unwell’ and the new single ‘Apathy In The UK,’ also give it plenty large. However you would be really challenged to pick anything resembling a duffer amidst these 11 tracks and combine that with Russ Russell’s excellent production and you have one hell of a solid album. I also have to mention the last track instrumental ‘Put You Out Of My Misery.’ The band finished last album with an excellent cover of the ‘28 Days Later’ main theme; well their own composition is equally chilling and bleak.
I took a lot of time with this album and gave it more plays than I would probably normally do so, perhaps I was looking for some way I could criticise it but every listen has been a pleasure. If you like extreme music in any ways shape or form, get this or die trying
http://www.myspace.com/therotted
Pete Woods
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