Hematovore Untitled
Acerbic Noise Development and001 2005
By Jason Jordan
The recent influx of instrumental albums has been overwhelming because of its quality. Even the ones that are below par for the course are still pretty good, and there seems to be new bands forming every other day that want to jump on this bandwagon, which has yet to compromise its integrity or lose it all together. But unlike an undisclosed number of their peers, 14-year veterans Hematovore are a dirty outfit that have produced a grimy album with hints of sludge and doom.
The quintet can be likened to Pelican occasionally, though Untitled proves capable of steering itself in rarely-visited waters. And despite the penetrating heaviness that Hematovore offer repeatedly, this full-length doesnt eschew optimistic, happy passages in favor of bleak, oozing dankness. Still, this is a gritty affair. The straight-ahead, rock approach of Witherspoon, Pt. 2 will entice some, as will the Capricorns-esque, buzzing distortion. While the transitions arent the smoothest, its immediately noticeable that the songs are driven, and most unfold in an enthusiastic manner. The beginning of Blasting Through the Back Nine prepare for pertinent, comical soundclips displays a group that cant be considered sloppy, yet play their instruments with a looseness that may irk a worshipper of airtight musicianship. Hematovore serve up a hearty helping of sludgy doom enhanced with riveting guitar leads in Arachnophilia.
Blue Darner comes across as a modern sort of whirlwind in which the disarray doesnt necessarily make everything incomprehensible. Be ready for layer upon layer provided by various instruments before the 10-minute, post-hardcore tune Kamacuras and Spiega is let out of the bag. The middle features a portion of doom that rivals the shattering and shaking caused by an earthquake. Follower One Unit, Whole Blood experiments with doom yet again, and trudges while doing so, prior to the ostensible smoke has cleared piece known as Earwigs (Ewww!), which eventually incorporates a boatload of heavy, amplified distortion. Hematovore roll to a stop soon afterwards, having presented 43 minutes of material.
Untitled is a solid album that will be a nice grab for those of you who gobble down instrumental music like a competitive eater, er, listener. This five-piece cant yet compete with the stalwarts, but they certainly arent doing a poor job of backing up the first string. For $10, its a good deal if youve already exhausted other releases of a higher quality, simply cannot wait for the upcoming discs by Windmills by the Ocean, Mouth of the Architect, Red Sparowes, and Isis, or are an instrumental hound with an insatiable hankering for the stuff.
7/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Hematovore Website
Official Acerbic Noise Development Website
Acerbic Noise Development and001 2005
By Jason Jordan
The recent influx of instrumental albums has been overwhelming because of its quality. Even the ones that are below par for the course are still pretty good, and there seems to be new bands forming every other day that want to jump on this bandwagon, which has yet to compromise its integrity or lose it all together. But unlike an undisclosed number of their peers, 14-year veterans Hematovore are a dirty outfit that have produced a grimy album with hints of sludge and doom.
The quintet can be likened to Pelican occasionally, though Untitled proves capable of steering itself in rarely-visited waters. And despite the penetrating heaviness that Hematovore offer repeatedly, this full-length doesnt eschew optimistic, happy passages in favor of bleak, oozing dankness. Still, this is a gritty affair. The straight-ahead, rock approach of Witherspoon, Pt. 2 will entice some, as will the Capricorns-esque, buzzing distortion. While the transitions arent the smoothest, its immediately noticeable that the songs are driven, and most unfold in an enthusiastic manner. The beginning of Blasting Through the Back Nine prepare for pertinent, comical soundclips displays a group that cant be considered sloppy, yet play their instruments with a looseness that may irk a worshipper of airtight musicianship. Hematovore serve up a hearty helping of sludgy doom enhanced with riveting guitar leads in Arachnophilia.
Blue Darner comes across as a modern sort of whirlwind in which the disarray doesnt necessarily make everything incomprehensible. Be ready for layer upon layer provided by various instruments before the 10-minute, post-hardcore tune Kamacuras and Spiega is let out of the bag. The middle features a portion of doom that rivals the shattering and shaking caused by an earthquake. Follower One Unit, Whole Blood experiments with doom yet again, and trudges while doing so, prior to the ostensible smoke has cleared piece known as Earwigs (Ewww!), which eventually incorporates a boatload of heavy, amplified distortion. Hematovore roll to a stop soon afterwards, having presented 43 minutes of material.
Untitled is a solid album that will be a nice grab for those of you who gobble down instrumental music like a competitive eater, er, listener. This five-piece cant yet compete with the stalwarts, but they certainly arent doing a poor job of backing up the first string. For $10, its a good deal if youve already exhausted other releases of a higher quality, simply cannot wait for the upcoming discs by Windmills by the Ocean, Mouth of the Architect, Red Sparowes, and Isis, or are an instrumental hound with an insatiable hankering for the stuff.
7/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Hematovore Website
Official Acerbic Noise Development Website
