Here is a sort of noise throwback to the 1990s sludgecore era from Northern Texas folks associated with the House Of Tinnitus crowd. The sound of the material is bass-driven stuff kind of like Man Is The Bastard (especially in the vocals) and sludgy noise-rock groups like Towel. Lots of circular, sort of Tool-like basslines and some relaxed drumming to go along with that… a more modern element that works really well is the harsh electronics that are going on along with the other stuff… in fact the electronics could actually stand to be a little louder in the recording mix… It has a sludgecore sound that could be described as “groovy,” maybe kind of like the work of the pre-Sleep group Asbestosdeath. When I was a teenager, I got a ride home from a Denny’s from this girl named Faith who worked there. She had an Asbestosdeath patch on the crotch of her pants, which I was very impressed by. Since then I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Asbestosdeath or anything that reminds me of Faith’s cool pants. This tape reminds me of listening to Asbestosdeath and lots of other cool records in the 90s heyday of crazy sludgecore records and bands playing at the Dixie Taverne.
The artwork for this tape is really amazing, a translucent fold-out plastic j-card with a nice papyrus-looking colored background and a long story (lyrics?) written out in a tiny runic font that is nearly impossible to read. Although difficult to decipher, it looks beautiful. As far as band members go, information-wise it just says that this was recorded by a guy named Justin Lemons and mastered by somebody named Greg Dixon… also there is a phone number for the group that is written out in Roman Numerals. I know also that Rob Buttrum (Lychgate, Nite Sadez, Filth) also has something to do with this project. Not sure what exactly, because I cannot find a lineup listing on this artwork. The recording is of excellent quality, analog two-track tape recording that is mixed at a nice level. I hear the bass (mixed the loudest), drums, and some bits of electronics. The tape is of a substantial length, with easily a full LPs worth of material on this tape. It is interesting to hear a project like this in 2012… I’m sure that live this project is an absolute monster.
I like this kind of hardcore based sludge, but I was really surprised at the sound of this coming from a group with a name like Terminator II, kind of expected something more harsh and technological. The warm analog sound would work very well as a vinyl LP… this would be a real throwback sort of release for a lot of people, harkens back to the heyday of Buzzoven, MITB, Eyehategod, Grief, Harvey Milk, all those great sludgy seven-inch records and split LPs etcetera from back in the day. Would fit perfectly on one of the “Cry Now Cry Later” compilations… now its coming back to me, this has a mood similar to what they used to call “power violence.” Not a bad release, probably a group that will continue to grow and develop as time goes on. Worth a look for fans of any of the groups mentioned above… this is an interesting tape. You can tell from listening to it that the guys can throw a performance that is a real blast. Would make a good double-bill opener for Evil Spirits.
Rating: 3/5
Written by: Joseph Gates
Label: Self-released
Tracklisting:
01. Revival
02. Hollow Earth
03. Methodic + Serpentine
04. No Teeth
05. Mathematics
06. I Am God
07. Ancestralcide
08. Mortar + Masons
