This Time Tomorrow “Nadir” CD

I didn't even know New Age Records was still around, but apparently they are, as they recently released "Nadir", the debut full-length from This Time Tomorrow. They basically tear through nine generally fast 'n' furious tracks in 25 minutes, crossing a range of metallic hardcore influences while also tossing in a few unexpectedly sludgy twists and turns. For the most part you'll find lots of intense (and at times borderline grinding) speeds and churning power chords with sort of a Catharsis/Gehenna kind of thing happening in a way, but the vocals are more of a straightforward strained yelling. There are a few nice, thick breakdowns; sparse appearances of discordant chords or slightly more chaotic guitar textures; or the aforementioned quick, out-of-nowhere, rocked out southern-tinged sludge runs; but they tend to blast right on through for the most part. Something about the recording took my ears some getting used to, but I can't quite place it. I guess it's something about the dingy grit they're shooting for with the distortion (affecting both the guitars and bass), which is actually pretty damn fitting of their approach, but it tends to mask some of the differentiation between the instruments a bit. There's a good low-end thump to the percussion though, and once my ears adjust to the mix of the textures it's a pretty solid outing. The vocals sound pretty damn sick regardless, though, and that's especially cool given the surprising ferocity of the lyrics:

When hoofbeats roar upon the earth and disease devours your eyes. When you've lost all you were ever worth and insects cloud the skies. When you've already been stripped of everything and nothing is too low, there you'll drive the nail. Venom runs down your throat. You'll never have your fill. Seven eyes will watch you, walls will hear you whisper. You will beg, you will crawl, 'til there's nothing left to sell. Make ready the heavens, there's no more room in hell. You, prince among demons, your empire the land of the dead. Winter nights will rust through faith, the holy come for your head. You, who bury hope before the hopeless. You who walk on talon feet. May you drown in the blood of your kings. Let sleepless nights in skeleton trees lay me to rest in a shallow of leaves. Let me decay, give me my end. I'll give you soil, fertile once again. Give me the floors of long dead seas, give me the halls of slaughtered kings. Tear me apart or let me sleep. Give me wind sweet with disease or just give me your dead for a shell. There's no more room in hell.

This Time Tomorrow "IV."

Like it? Then buy one, suckers:

New Age Records
RevHQ
Very Distribution