SKM-ETR "A Better Place" 3" CD
[Objective-Subjective]
After a brief sample intro ("A Better Place I") dealing with minimizing the world's human population, Canada's SKM-ETR dives into some massive power electronics with a range of harsh noise textures and insane vocals under heavy reverb and distortion. The layering in the tracks is often rather pressed together, with a good chunk of blistering, crunching distortion over thicker throbs, perhaps a sample or the aforementioned vocals, etc. There's definitely some panning and such effects going on, so it's not totally stripped down, but it still comes across as fairly cohesive. On occasion things will surge into a rhythmic loop, and it could almost be argued that tracks like "Human Speed Bumps" actually have a "song structure" of sorts, as there are clearly repeated patterns and arrangements. The eight-minute "Sermon of Vermin" is thicker and more consistent, still subtly rhythmic and with busier movement in its chaotic distortion - the vocals becoming so unrecognizable that they act as additional texture over anything else. "Gas Blistered Lips" is perhaps more stripped down, using more low-end presence and letting the vocals have a little more space for their barked attack to make itself known. Towards the latter moments of the track some distant musical elements seem to seep in, though it's hard to really identify what's going on there. The disc comes in a full size jewel case with professionally printed black and white artwork that contains minimal imagery. The art on the cover and the disc face appears to have been taken from a comic book and reads, "The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over all the vermin will drown." Nice. Some of the visuals (mainly on the back cover) could be crisper, but it works. Overall this is good work, continuing to provide examples of why this project seems to have quickly developed a bit of a name within this genre. (7/10)
Running time - 20:36, Tracks: 5
[Notable tracks: Human Speed Bumps, Gas Blistered Lips]
SKM-ETR - http://www.skm-etr.com

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