Ugly : "Autograph"

In the 90s sludge was more crazed and less composed than the sludge of today. It owed more to crust and punk, than it does today, and this band remembers that. There are certainly metallic moments when every thing converges upon a riff to crush you. I like the darker sonic that include the use of samples. The vocals take a little bit to get use to as they are very raw, with barely any effects on them just crazed man screaming into a mic. Krysta Curry from Landmine Marathon also share vocal duties while helping out with synths, samples, and percussion. Though her vocal presence is not really felt til the second song that has a more oddly orchestrated feel that embraces the weird in a more grandiose fashion that reminds me more of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. 

They clash to create a pounding angular attack with "Challenging Ego / Challenging Pride" what I like about this song is it does not sound like anyone. There are familiar elements like the scathing trade off of vocals  and the syncopated riff the song builds toward. Sure there is a fair amount of influence from "Souls at Zero" era Neurosis, but they are pretty much just doing their own thing, taking risks and not playing it safe. It pays off. "In My Pocket" takes a solid metal groove and throws it against grim samples so it drowns in a Negativeland like collage they explode out of with a hard core anger. 

They close the album out with the almost 14 minute "Suckle" . Granted the first three minutes of this could have been scaled back as they are making noise. It takes another minute after that to ramp up into the heaviness of the song, which I am fine with and think the song should have started with the on ramp, but it is not a deal breaker. There is a teeth gnashing that infects every instrument they assault you with here. The tribal drums the song ends with might be the album's most Neurosis like moment. But Neurosis has ceased to be so some one has got to scratch that itch. I will give this album a 9.5, they take familar things and make it their on in a beautifully dark and unsettling fashion. 

Common Wounds : " s/t"

This band from Arizona features ex-members of Landmine Marathon. They take you back to the 90s with their take on taunt terse post-hardcore that reflects the syncopation of bands like Helmet, with guitar melodies that are more textured filling the spaces where they allow the songs to breathe. They are capable of stepping on the anger pedal and exploding into something heavier. The second song finds them in a straight forward , where they a recklessly charging almost punk moments remind me of Planesmistakenforstars. The vocals occupies  a backseat that falls somewhere between shouted and sung. 

This rowdy brand of tough guy noise rock carries over into the more aggressive "High/ Low". The vocals are more obligatory here, as they contribute little more than a human element to a uniform narrative. The guitars are the real stars not just on this song but the album as a whole. The have a great deal of attack , but are also melodically nuanced. I think it is good this is an EP, as three songs in the formula beings to get too familiar. Thankfully this is switched up in favor a more introspective mood on"No Exit" . The vocals are given more room to muse they are capturing, though never actually being sung. The guitar melodies coming in to not only save the song , but elevate it to being the most memorable. 

Things get heavier with "Phantom Limb". The vocals carry more anguish to their dry throated snarl. This also proves to be one of the album's more dynamic songs , though it does not hook me in to the same extent. I appreciate where they go, and I am convinced they mean every note. I can not claim this is not my thing as I listened to lots of this in the late 90s. The vocals are not my favorite, but aside from that these guys are great songwriters and able inject a great deal of feeling into what they do here. Seasoned veterans of the scene, they know what they are doing and make these songs work. I will give this a 9, though not sure how much it will get in terms of repeat listens from me, but fans of bands like Jawbreaker who want something heavier should be pleased.