Here's another super fucking short demo from Drugs of Faith, and these cats really need to start releasing longer EP's or something! I mean, shit, the entire thing has already played through once just in me preparing to start writing this review! Anyway, expect a pretty diverse blend of styles from raw, caustic sludge to raw, caustic hardcore/grind. Interestingly enough, one of these songs is a re-recording from their 2004 promotional demo, "So Be It", and it sounds way different this time around. A part of that comes from the more efficient recording, which retains a rough edge but is much clearer and more balanced, but they've also added in some fucked up layers of clean guitars amidst the pulsing distorted bass and dissonant distorted textures, so the band's really starting to form their own sound with this one, and you can't pigeonhole them at all, which is great. "Burning" is slower and has more of a churning sludginess to it that lets the guitars get a little noisier while the bass helps drive the rhythmic surges, closing with a quick sample of George W. Bush spewing his normal foot-in-mouth horseshit. Overall the recording is pretty damn good, but I'd definitely like to hear the rhythm section given just a hint more clarity, because the drums hit hard and the bass sounds pretty damn killer, but it's still a little hard to hear. The vocals, however, sound superb. Perfectly clear, well placed in the mix, and I love that they're just total yells. No growling, no screaming, no snarling, just straightforward, pissed off, in your face shouting. Awesome. The layout looks better this time too, still a xerox, but actually adding some cover art and whatnot. The lyrics are somewhat different from the norm as well, hinting at commentary on larger issues, but staying rooted in personal reflection: "How is it that your views have changed so much from mine? Or is it that mine have changed? Do I respect your opinion, or just respect that you have one? I am hesitant to stand up to you, even to discuss. I apologize for all the things that I have not done yet." I'm really looking forward to getting the chance to hear more than four minutes of material from this band in one sitting, because they're getting better and better and really have something to offer. You can get an idea of where they're coming from though, and this doesn't sound like the vast majority of what's out there, so that's damn refreshing to my ears... believe me!
[self-released]
Running time - 4:03, Tracks: 2
[Notable tracks: both are quite strong]
Drugs of Faith - http://www.drugsoffaith.com
