Ação Direta "Entre a Bênção e o Caos" CD
[Pecúlio]
This is the third album from this longstanding Brazilian hardcore act. This is my first exposure to the band, but the material here ranges from straightforward hardcore with a fast crossover feel to some slower, heavier moments that almost lean towards a NYHC type of style, and a few tracks with a noticeable punk vibe as well (all with shouted vocals). There's definitely a lot going on. Hell, "A Natureza Humana" is even based around acoustic guitars and multiple layers of tribal percussion with some thick bass and shouted vocals, with one distorted lead break... fucking awesome. "17 de Abril" is an instrumental with some wonderful acoustic guitars and prominent bass runs, there's almost a jazz sort of vibe... fucking beautiful. They also do a cover of Terveet Kadet's "The Darkness". Not too shabby. The recording is okay, but I definitely think it holds back the potential that some of these songs have. Aside from the fact that the guitars are occasionally slightly out of tune with one another, the recording isn't really full enough, and the ruggedness of the guitar tones can bring forth some minor performance flaws that, while not too bothersome, are somewhat problematic. I'd just like to hear more warmth and density as a whole. The bass needs to be louder, the drums need some more density, the guitars need more crunch, and the mix needs to be tightened up. Now, that's not to say that the production is awful, because that's not the case at all. However, with a more beneficial sound these songs would be that much more effective. The layout is pretty straightforward. I really like the layering of imagery on the front cover, and inside all of the lyrics are included in both Portuguese and English. The back cover strays from the color scheme and is a bit busier by introducing some different fonts, but it's not awful... it's just not as strong as the booklet itself. The English translations of the lyrics can be a bit rough sometimes, but it's clear that the band has a political message that deals with the issues that surround them: "Political tensions, religions, risk of life, terror in the streets. Conflicts created by intolerance. Extremely radical views from insane minds. Wrath - ignorance. Fear - violence..." This is a solid record, it just needs a little bit more cohesion and a stronger sound to really do some damage. It's cool to see the band still going strong after all these years, though... (6/10)
Running time - 27:58, Tracks: 14
[Notable tracks: Fatalidades, Miséria: Mercado Alvo, A Natureza Humana, 17 de Abril, Inércia]
Pecúlio Discos - http://www.peculiodiscos.com.br

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