Merauder "Bluetality" CD
[Century Media]
Damn, it's about time. I didn't think this record was ever going to come out. How many years has it been since "Five Deadly Venoms"? Almost four years or something? For the most part this record offers up the type of traditionally brutal metalcore you would expect from the band. Much of the riffing is the same metallic hardcore for which Merauder is known, balancing forceful chord progressions with note based runs, but the vocals sound stronger than ever this time out. Most of the aggressive shouts/screams are the same as they always were, but a wider range is displayed here, sometimes with sort of an Exhorder tinge, and sometimes bordering on hitting notes (but not really singing). The only track that's totally out of left field is the melodic and catchy "Underground Girl", which I would almost swear is a cover song due to its complete change of style, but I don't think it actually is... very strange. The chorus is memorable as hell, though. What can I say? The production is pretty damn good. The drums sound great, there's a solid bass presence, and the vocals sound perfect. The guitars are slightly dry (but the low-end of the bass does help thicken 'em up), I don't think these guys have ever nailed a perfect guitar tone, but all in all this is the most balanced sound they've ever had on a full-length. I don't have any serious complaints. It's thicker and cleaner than the first record and it's not as muddy as the second one, so... it works out well. The layout's a bit minimal, but the artwork's not that bad. I like all of the dirty, decaying textures at the very least. I just wish that the inner pages of the booklet weren't so plain. Everything is in black and white and repeats most of the same imagery in the background underneath the lyrics, which are printed in a plain, but legible font. As the record title would suggest a couple of the tracks herein lash out at police brutality, but aside from that and a few unexpected twists ("Underground Girl" and "Messiah or the Great White Pope", for example) you know what to expect: "Now you're in way too deep, You made your bed punk, We'll put you to sleep, Thought we would never get the news, Thought we'd never come for you, Been too many times around the block, We've seen it all son, you better stop, From trying to seek props from our name, Try to gain yourself some fame, Did you see it coming, payback..." In the end I don't like the songs here as much as the tracks on "Five Deadly Venoms", but it's still a solid record from a fairly consistent band. I know that some of their old fans hate this record, but that doesn't make any sense to me. If you were into 'em before, give this one a shot as well. Things can get a little tiresome at times, but the total running time is brief so it works itself out. (7/10)
Running time - 31:41, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: No Warning, Bluetality, Payback]
Century Media - http://www.centurymedia.com

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