Wednesday, May 15, 2013

SYNTHETIC WASTE

I actively avoided Chicago's Water Torture for a year based solely off the hype they've been getting since their inception and a 20 second clip that I heard somewhere online. At this point I don't even remember what the clip was and I don't really know what it was that I didn't like about it. This is their 7" EP from last year "Shellfire!" and I have to admit that it's pretty great relentless drum and bass powerviolence hardcore. Pressed by the growingly powerful Diseased Audio Records, my copy is on black wax from the first press of 500 copies. A second press of 300 copies on grey vinyl also exists.
I think a massive part of my reasons for initially avoiding this band were also because of the drum and bass thing. It certainly seems that most people who are fond of this Crossed Out styled brand of PV love the drum and bass sound, but I have to admit that I'm pretty obsessed with the good razor sharp treble that a heavy guitar tone brings to any type of aggressive music. Primary case in point: Iron Lung and the Insect Warfare LP. I've been able to find a massive amount of enjoyment in these eleven songs though. By nature it's pretty depressing stuff, Matt's bass tone is drenched in filth and I'd assume that the noise tracks that he contributes would also go a long way to alienate the majority of those not indebted heavily to purist stop start powervionece like this.
An additional nine or ten WT releases exist in addition to this 7", all of which tread a relatively similar path. They've just released a split with Sixbrewbantha that actually utilises guitars, and those songs sound shredding, but the band have stated that the six string will not become a permanent fixture within their compositions. I'd argue that this EP is their best stuff, but the guitar track stuff should also be on top of the list for any newcomer looking to explore the discography.

1 comment:

VII said...

Glad you snagged this. They've become one of my favorite bands. They're the heaviest thing ever live.