Meatwound : "Macho"

 

This Tampa band carries a more '90s feel into their industrial-tinged take on sludge. They allow for a dynamic ebb and flow. The coarse vocals bark out from the sonic swathe of guitars that carries a buzzing tension.  The mood is more noise-rock, but a pumped-up, beefier take on the genre when it comes to the throbbing drone of "Mt Vermin". It's not as dynamic as the opening track. It is more chaotic and noisy as it progresses. There is a more aggressive palm-muted syncopation to "Obsese Variants". The verses hit almost more like Meshuggah. The vocals are roared in a more anthemic fashion on the chorus. But once again, it works more of the tension than the release. 

'Labor" starts off with a stirring storm of tribalistic drums building like a storm. This is the first hint of their Neurosis influence, though it's given a hyper-drive tempo. When it comes to the weight of its sonic density, it might be the heaviest song thus far. To their bassist's credit, he is the engine of this machine as he grinds the point home. "Frank Stallone' brood a bit but does not really build up. There is more of a frantic chaos to "Pigs, Tu". When the bass anchors the song midway in things feel like they are finding their footing.  The experimental spirit of this album should be admired, as it is something I like hearing in heavier music.

"Europa" is more intense and chaotic as it only goes for the throat in its rabid attack. I can understand why some might be into this sort of thing. "Barking Dog as a Plot Device' is almost more of an interlude at just under two minutes. It pounds at your ears with an overdriven fuzz to relish the noise ridden havoc it propagates. The longest song is last, which makes sense given the more Melvins-like thump of the chug they lock into. The vocals remain constant in the bellow that has belched all over the album. The second verse is wise to let the bass groove carry it. There is some dynamic ebb and flow to this one to balance this out. It converges into the kind of stomp most want from sludge. I will give this album an 8.5, I like the 90s vibes I am getting from this as the rough around the edges noise touches add an unhinged ambiance. 

pst201