ten56. : "IO"

 

The sophomore full-length from ten56 finds them picking up where they left off.  They are still at the intersection where metal-core sprang from nu-metal in the days of Myspace. What I like about these guys is the dark undertones to their sound that hit no matter if they are opening the album with more of a hammering stomp or going into the more Ghostemane-like rap dirges. There are interesting sounds wrapped around both modes of sonic attack. "Snapped Neck' follows more of a formula than the first two songs, with sung vocals popping in, though it's bookended by experimental touches. 

"I Know Where You Sleep" is the first single from this album that I remember hearing. It feels more like a death metal song at first. It's oppressive in its hardcore heaviness. I had to listen to it a couple of times to wrap my head around it. To their credit, they do temper the blunt force with atmosphere. "Good Morning" feels like an extension of the previous song until it builds up in a feral chaos. The staccato vocals are well placed in their primal chant. Some similarities to Slipknot can be detected here. 

"Earwig" has a more headbobbing groove to its brand of beatdown, though it's decorated with all kinds of noisy sounds. I like the vocal production on this album more than what I have heard from them in the past. There is so much going on with the sounds swirling around the guitar's crunch, I think using effects on his voice makes him work more like another instrument. "ICU" finds more hip-hop elements working in. This is preferred over the just straight upetal core moments. "PTY FCK" works with his angry lyrics as it circles more of a nu-metal mosh pit. The wall of sound they hit you with here is just so over the top, it works. 

"Friends' sounds like if Limp Bizkit has a psychotic episode on a meth binge. 'Banshee" is the first song where it feels like the heavy intention overpowers the songwriting, and even then, it's still more effective than not. The title track is more of a drill track. I will give this album a 9.5, as it finds a great balance of being heavy as fuck while still caring about the songs and avoiding falling into a trap of just numbing you out with their pound. 

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