Balboa Manifeste Cannibale EP
Forge Again Records FAR018 March 22nd, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Philadelphia? Balboa? Looks like someone has a thing for the Rocky movies. But, please, hold all Sylvester Stallone jokes till the end. Moving on, Manifeste Cannibale EP is essentially a teaser that runs the better part of fourteen minutes. And, the hardcore a la a simpler Buried Inside is supremely enjoyable.
Ostracon, a track that can be downloaded (legally!) from the Forge Again Records website, commences the EP with full force. The vocals are perhaps more raspy than average and after spinning the album a few times I grew to like them quite a bit. The musicians all run the proficiency gauntlet with relative ease, but I hated that the songs collapse so early. Ostracon barely reaches the two-minute mark before it dies, and the jumpy Kyoto almost reaches two and a half minutes. Serene is the beginning of the title track, Manifeste Cannibale, and the aforementioned proves to be overall a beautifully orchestrated number. Aside from the three-minute, soundclip rant from an ex-Marine, the song is a clean instrumental. End to Major Combat follows suit until the distortion-heavy, one-minute mark arrives. The aggression heightens as a result of the voxs entrance, and Manifeste Cannibale EP thus comes to a halt. Also of note, though, is the eclectic artwork: the album features cool, color patterns and a CD that utilizes the same general idea as Subterranean Masquerades Temporary Psychotic State EP.
All in all, Im really anticipating a second full-length from Balboa, because if Manifeste Cannibale EP is any indication, then the upcoming record should be killer. If you come across this by chance, lay down a few dollars to pick it up. Still waiting for a joke, eh? Well, heres one for you: Rocky II, III, IV, and V.
8/10
Official Balboa website
Official Forge Again Records website
Forge Again Records FAR018 March 22nd, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Philadelphia? Balboa? Looks like someone has a thing for the Rocky movies. But, please, hold all Sylvester Stallone jokes till the end. Moving on, Manifeste Cannibale EP is essentially a teaser that runs the better part of fourteen minutes. And, the hardcore a la a simpler Buried Inside is supremely enjoyable.
Ostracon, a track that can be downloaded (legally!) from the Forge Again Records website, commences the EP with full force. The vocals are perhaps more raspy than average and after spinning the album a few times I grew to like them quite a bit. The musicians all run the proficiency gauntlet with relative ease, but I hated that the songs collapse so early. Ostracon barely reaches the two-minute mark before it dies, and the jumpy Kyoto almost reaches two and a half minutes. Serene is the beginning of the title track, Manifeste Cannibale, and the aforementioned proves to be overall a beautifully orchestrated number. Aside from the three-minute, soundclip rant from an ex-Marine, the song is a clean instrumental. End to Major Combat follows suit until the distortion-heavy, one-minute mark arrives. The aggression heightens as a result of the voxs entrance, and Manifeste Cannibale EP thus comes to a halt. Also of note, though, is the eclectic artwork: the album features cool, color patterns and a CD that utilizes the same general idea as Subterranean Masquerades Temporary Psychotic State EP.
All in all, Im really anticipating a second full-length from Balboa, because if Manifeste Cannibale EP is any indication, then the upcoming record should be killer. If you come across this by chance, lay down a few dollars to pick it up. Still waiting for a joke, eh? Well, heres one for you: Rocky II, III, IV, and V.
8/10
Official Balboa website
Official Forge Again Records website
