This is the first release I've heard from this band in the last two years, but I like it just as much as their full-length. It's that frenetic, caustic, chaotic brand of metallic hardcore best known coming from bands like Deadguy, but Building on Fire does it way better than most other bands. They throw around a lot of changes, tons of dissonance, scathing vocal screams, busy layers of guitar textures, etc. But they keep the writing coherent and forceful, rather than sounding like a million riffs randomly thrown together. They've got everything from melodic chord progressions and arpeggios to death metal sounding runs and vicious rhythmic breakdowns similar to post-hardcore on crack. Shit, there's even an untitled harsh electronic noise track in the middle of the disc complete with tons of brutal panning and explosive bursts - actually sounding better than about 90% of the harsh noise that I hear from actual noise artists! "Say Hello to Fuck You" is more melodic in a sense, and actually catchy, even layering some singing vocals with all of the screaming and yelling. Awesome. The slower and darker instrumental "Five Severed Fingers Do Not Make a Hand" comes in later in the disc with a lot of almost out of tune guitar lines clashing together with feedback and steady drumming/basslines - damn near clocking in at seven minutes! The recording isn't bad. It's dirty and a bit muddy at times, but for what they're doing it tends to work. A slightly more polished mix wouldn't hurt, nor would a smoother guitar tone, but the drums and vocals sound pretty good despite minor shortcomings, and it all works out in the end. Visually everything looks good, using only shades of blue, black, and orange, with one tangible illustration and several abstract textures. The lyrics can go either way, some aspects are better than others, but they definitely have their moments: "Cutting bargains with the space outside, just like them the light makes you invisible. Audition gone rotten, bled yourself right out of the part. Made the mistake, left too much evidence. Now we can touch you where you live and breed, We hold the purse strings that define you, they fashion a convenient noose..." Not too shabby. I'm definitely into this. They're getting better with time, so it's possible that their next record could decimate all in its path. Look out for this one.
[Blatherskyte]
Running time - 22:21, Tracks: 7
[Notable tracks: Say Hello to Fuck You, How Murder Works, Five Severed Fingers Do Not Make a Hand]
Blatherskyte Records - http://www.enterprisehardcore.com
