Saturday, September 16, 2023

Graf Orlock : "End Credits"





This hard core band has made a concept album of sorts that pays homage to post-apocalyptic science fiction. This is not done in a grandiose fashion, uses the grit they normally offer. "Mega City Blues" is a direct nod to Judge Dredd, which aside from Anthrax's icon "I am the Law" does not get enough acknowledgement from heavy music. They give less shits on "Dead Out of the Sun" that finds them converge upon a pretty mean chug. They do not shy from crusty blast beats. 

They tackle Snow Piercer with "Those Bastards in the Front Sections". It is a song attacked with thrashing aggression. The vocals are a more metallic snarl most of the time. It is fair to say these guys are a metallic hard core band more often than not. Almost cross over thrash at times, but with a raw anger that casts aside aspirations of things like guitar solos. They begin to scream about "Waterworld" on "Unloading an Unwanted Passenger". The break down on this song is mean as all hell. They come close to melody at times. 

They close the album with an ode to "Children of  Men". I think their rather high brow taste in movies, aside from perhaps the cult following of Waterworld, speaks a great deal to how they handle the songs, and where they create their own art from. This was recorded live to tape, and you can get that sense from how compressed everything is. The melody that does emerge upon occasion flow rather organically and never feels contrived. I will give this album a 9, as it is so raw and in your face it is not possessed by any of the darkness or nuance I listen for in all music , hard core included, but this is so well done and honest , it deserves this score as it is a great album for what they are doing. 

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