Balatonizer - Occlused In Ottusity
This Dark Reign Recordings - 2005
By Philip Whitehouse
32 tracks in 25 minutes? It's got to be hyperspeed grind then, hasn't it? Italian trio Balatonizer manage to rise above this somewhat staid genre, however, through dint of their technical skills, crisp production, excellent drum-machine programming and occasional sense of restrained experimentation... Oh, and not to forget their refreshingly tongue-in-cheek attitude.
Yes, while this is as blindingly fast and brutal a grindcore platter as you could possibly wish for, these guys don't simply plunder the Carcass back catalogue and take the rest of the day off. No, these guys impress with their brutal-yet-complex riffage and ear for dissonance which makes tracks like 'C.E.D.' and 'Caimme' memorable. Couple that with occasional skilful use of synths to add a 'carnival of horrors' atmosphere to the backdrop of some of the tracks, plus Balatonizer's near-Nasum-esque skill at dropping in mid-tempo grind-breakdowns at opportune moments, and you have an accomplished release deserving of a wider audience.
On the downside, the somewhat clinical drum sound betrays their artificial nature (despite the excellent programming), and the unusually (for a grind album) crisp and balanced production can be somewhat distracting. However, this allows the riffs to shine through, and Balatonizer have some really impressive chops. Well worth your time if you're a dedicated grindfreak looking for something a little different.
7.5/10
Balatonizer's Official Website
This Dark Reign Recordings Official Website
This Dark Reign Recordings - 2005
By Philip Whitehouse
32 tracks in 25 minutes? It's got to be hyperspeed grind then, hasn't it? Italian trio Balatonizer manage to rise above this somewhat staid genre, however, through dint of their technical skills, crisp production, excellent drum-machine programming and occasional sense of restrained experimentation... Oh, and not to forget their refreshingly tongue-in-cheek attitude.
Yes, while this is as blindingly fast and brutal a grindcore platter as you could possibly wish for, these guys don't simply plunder the Carcass back catalogue and take the rest of the day off. No, these guys impress with their brutal-yet-complex riffage and ear for dissonance which makes tracks like 'C.E.D.' and 'Caimme' memorable. Couple that with occasional skilful use of synths to add a 'carnival of horrors' atmosphere to the backdrop of some of the tracks, plus Balatonizer's near-Nasum-esque skill at dropping in mid-tempo grind-breakdowns at opportune moments, and you have an accomplished release deserving of a wider audience.
On the downside, the somewhat clinical drum sound betrays their artificial nature (despite the excellent programming), and the unusually (for a grind album) crisp and balanced production can be somewhat distracting. However, this allows the riffs to shine through, and Balatonizer have some really impressive chops. Well worth your time if you're a dedicated grindfreak looking for something a little different.
7.5/10
Balatonizer's Official Website
This Dark Reign Recordings Official Website
