Damn, this is a lot heavier and more abrasive than this Swedish group's last demo (see the review below), and it's still damn good. But they continue to have a weird sort of indie rock flare going on at times, the raging vocal screams are intense as hell, and the emphasis on rhythm is fucking awesome. The bass and drums really hold things down nicely, but even the guitars and vocals seem to emphasize a certain rhythmic element that really keeps the material interesting, even when it borders on the edge of becoming chaotic. There's just something about their songwriting that's curious and catchy enough (in an atypical sense) to give them an innovative edge all their own. Just check out the quirky clean breaks and singing vocals in "The Abstract Citizen", for example... contrast that with the throbbing bass and the start/stop rhythms and you've got one hell of a track. The production is once again strong for a demo. The drums sound fucking great, the bass plays a very solid role in the mix, the guitars are dirty without being too grating or messy, and the vocals rest right in with the music. I don't have any real complaints. A little bit more of an overall sense of clarity might add more punch, but this is great for a demo, because I've heard full-lengths funded by labels that sound 100 times worse than this. Good work. They obviously know what they're doing. The layout is fairly tastefully done with all xeroxes in a jewel case, but the text and arrangements are pretty clean, so... Visually things are pretty minimal, there's some abstract imagery and what looks like a tiny photo of a guy clutching his stomach, but everything else is text. I really like the lyrics, they're mostly personal observation but seem to have a larger commentary buried within their cryptic lines as well, and the wording is pretty cool. "Some try to fly while their wings are soaked. Some even turn to God without proper cause. Begging for bread with a handful of cash. All that is rendering the final lash. I shove this up your ass. I shove this down your throat. When I'm dead and gone. Consider which words are in vain and which are not..." This is a great band. I believe they'll have a full-length out at the end of the year, so keep an eye out. These cats are way better than most of the somewhat "popular" American bands that are flirting with this type of approach.
[self-released]
Running time - 12:01, Tracks: 7
[Notable tracks: Culture Générale, Stop Beating Around the Bush, The Abstract Citizen]
Rentokiller - http://www.rentokiller.tk
