Machines Of Indeterminate Origin – 0.5 Assumption

Written by: VITRIOL

Artist
Country:
Label: Sonoptik
Genre: Guitar Rock / Metal / Industrial / Alternative

Tracklisting:

01 End Credits
02 Nurse!
03 Nurse?
04 Nurse?!
05 1D10M GR1M

M.0.1.0 is the acronym for Machines 0f 1ndeterminate 0rigin , a Tasmanian-based duo comprised of Aaron Metcalf and Matt Warren.

M.0.1.0 count three releases (the previous two being “0.0 – PR0M0”, 2009 and “0.5 – PRESUMPT10N”, 2009) and a participation in the “New Weird Australia – Bleak Metal ” sampler. Besides the physical releases which they distribute themselves in gigs and specific record stores, you can purchase a digital copy of their music via the Sonoptik label That is probably the best idea if you live away from the mysterious, captivating land of Tasmania. If you’re interested in this type of music it’s definitely worth the trouble, to get your hands on such an authentic, original release.

My first reaction when I started listening to “0.5 ASSUMPT10N” was “Finally! Good old-fashioned rockin’ 90s style”! My second thought was “Wait, this has an intellectual side to it too, how interesting”. It all went uphill from there. Not a minute went by when I wasn’t fascinated, as well as thoroughly entertained. In just 5 tracks M.0.1.0 manage to create an amalgam of many different influences, which in their unexpected combinations give the end result of a very distinctive, crisp sound. They have the harsh, bulky industrial backbone and grim, distorted vocals of Godflesh, the monolithic, heavy guitar riffs of Kyuss, the experimentation and the spunk of early Sonic Youth, and are generally reminiscent of many 90s alternative rock bands ranging on the more experimental, harsher side of the genre. Whichever way you look at it, it is undoubtedly a little avant-garde to place the “End Credits” at the beginning of the release! The drum sequence in “Nurse!” reminds me of certain Dead Kennedys tracks, in its threatening, urgent culmination.

To top all that off the project has an obvious mechanistic influence, in their concept as well as their execution. “MACH1NES 0F 1NDETERM1NATE 0R1G1N” is actually the perfect name for the project – if I had to describe the album in just one sentence it would be “machines trying to create a flawless replica of human rock music”. The repetitive, regulatory nature of the tracks, their rigorous structuring and of course, the track titles all contribute towards that apprehension. The production is DIY and dirty enough to complement the sound, not more, not less – just the right dosage of spontaneous improvisation and intelligence. Moreover, Metcalf and Warren are skilled musicians. If you like your music heavy, unclean, daring and at the same time smart, it’s time for you to discover M.0.1.0!

Rating: 4.5/5