Just Browsing: Relapse Don Caballero, Fuck the Facts, Skinless, & Suffocation
By Jason Jordan
Here we are again with the second installment of Just Browsing, which delivers rapid-fire reviews of albums that are connected in one or more ways. Last time I focused on Neur-Isis-core. This time, however, I chose to center on records put out by Relapse. Due to the labels counterintuitive policy of not sending promos to most webzines, though, the only reviews youll likely read are those in print magazines, or, as Im about to demonstrate, in a webzine where a reviewer takes it upon himself to drum up some interest for the bands. Unfortunately, its almost impossible to support the bands without supporting the label at the same time, but the following discs do indeed warrant attention. Be sure to brush up on the new Dysrhythmia, too.
Another way the following releases are connected is that they represent my full-length introduction to each band. In other words, besides a few songs, Ive never heard a complete long-player by DC, FtF, Sk, or Su, so take that into consideration as every group has an extensive discography.
Don Caballero World Class Listening Problem
Relapse Records RR6693-2 2006
World Class Listening Problem marks not only the return of the long-running instrumental group Don Caballero, but also their departure from Touch & Go Records the label they called home for years and several LPs. Whats on tap is clean and tasteful music thats not overtly complex like the output of labelmates Dysrhythmia, though one can tell virtuosos are underneath the restrained performers who cut these tracks to tape. At times DC resort to melancholy, while, at others, they opt for brightness as in Railroad Cancellation and Palm Trees in the Fecking Bahamas. Sludge (Mmmmm Acting, I Love Me Some Good Acting), jazz (Sure We Had Knives Around, Im Goofballs for Bozzo Jazz), and Totimoshi-esque metal (And and and, He Lowered the Twin Down) make appearances, too. The musicianship is first-class, yet the replay value leaves much to be desired.
7/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Don Caballero Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Fuck the Facts Stigmata High-Five
Relapse Records RR6595-2 2006
Despite having more Splits, EPs, and LPs than days in a year, Im hoping Stigmata High-Five is the end of their label-jumping and the beginning of stability for grind/tech death enthusiasts Fuck the Facts. Led by growling female Mel, the melding of grindcore and technical death metal on SH-F proves the band can rival any of their labelmates in both the songwriting and musicianship department. Theres a definite edge to Fuck the Facts, which is delivered with tornado-like ferocity, but repeated listening is absolutely required for anyone who actually wants to recall the songs after they peter out. Still, tracks such as Carve Your Heart Out and Taken from the Nest are truly as intense as the titles would have you believe. Their umpteenth record is the best Ive heard from Relapse this year, even though the length (34 minutes) isnt what Id call great. Theres some bonus footage, nonetheless.
8/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Fuck the Facts Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Skinless Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead
Relapse Records RR6446-2 2006
Brutal death incumbents Skinless utilize the soundclip like no other band War its fantastic! or so claims A Unilateral Disgust. Fronted by guttural vocals, which are typical of the subgenre, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead capitalizes on all things war. Steamrolling through tune after tune, the New York unit conjure scenes as chilling as whats on their latest cover art. Often mechanical and machine-like in regards to precision, the razor-y production lends jaggedness to the recording, and most tracks just plain slay. Unfortunately, similar to Fuck the Factss newest entry, this one lasts a brief 37 minutes including a 6-minute cover of Black Sabbaths Wicked World.
7.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Skinless Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Suffocation Suffocation
Relapse Records RR6584-2 2006
Possibly the most renowned and heralded group of this whole bunch, Suffocation return after the letdown that was/is Souls to Deny. The metal populous has spoken, and Self-Titled is evidently a return to form that surprisingly gives even milestones such as Effigy of the Forgotten and Pierced from Within a proverbial run for their money. While Im not exactly familiar with their oeuvre, their music strikes me as too bland and lifeless despite Mullens intelligible growling, Smiths tight drumming, and the sharp, sharp riffing. Perhaps I was expecting a more exciting release overall, but was left with something less entertaining in the end. Its definitely above average, however, and par for the Relapse course. Also of note is the 19-track sampler that accompanies Self-Titled. I cant comment on any other 2006 Relapse efforts simply because I havent heard more than one song from each, but Im betting, like the ones above, some are pretty good.
6.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Suffocation Website
Official Relapse Records Website
By Jason Jordan
Here we are again with the second installment of Just Browsing, which delivers rapid-fire reviews of albums that are connected in one or more ways. Last time I focused on Neur-Isis-core. This time, however, I chose to center on records put out by Relapse. Due to the labels counterintuitive policy of not sending promos to most webzines, though, the only reviews youll likely read are those in print magazines, or, as Im about to demonstrate, in a webzine where a reviewer takes it upon himself to drum up some interest for the bands. Unfortunately, its almost impossible to support the bands without supporting the label at the same time, but the following discs do indeed warrant attention. Be sure to brush up on the new Dysrhythmia, too.
Another way the following releases are connected is that they represent my full-length introduction to each band. In other words, besides a few songs, Ive never heard a complete long-player by DC, FtF, Sk, or Su, so take that into consideration as every group has an extensive discography.
Don Caballero World Class Listening Problem
Relapse Records RR6693-2 2006
World Class Listening Problem marks not only the return of the long-running instrumental group Don Caballero, but also their departure from Touch & Go Records the label they called home for years and several LPs. Whats on tap is clean and tasteful music thats not overtly complex like the output of labelmates Dysrhythmia, though one can tell virtuosos are underneath the restrained performers who cut these tracks to tape. At times DC resort to melancholy, while, at others, they opt for brightness as in Railroad Cancellation and Palm Trees in the Fecking Bahamas. Sludge (Mmmmm Acting, I Love Me Some Good Acting), jazz (Sure We Had Knives Around, Im Goofballs for Bozzo Jazz), and Totimoshi-esque metal (And and and, He Lowered the Twin Down) make appearances, too. The musicianship is first-class, yet the replay value leaves much to be desired.
7/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Don Caballero Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Fuck the Facts Stigmata High-Five
Relapse Records RR6595-2 2006
Despite having more Splits, EPs, and LPs than days in a year, Im hoping Stigmata High-Five is the end of their label-jumping and the beginning of stability for grind/tech death enthusiasts Fuck the Facts. Led by growling female Mel, the melding of grindcore and technical death metal on SH-F proves the band can rival any of their labelmates in both the songwriting and musicianship department. Theres a definite edge to Fuck the Facts, which is delivered with tornado-like ferocity, but repeated listening is absolutely required for anyone who actually wants to recall the songs after they peter out. Still, tracks such as Carve Your Heart Out and Taken from the Nest are truly as intense as the titles would have you believe. Their umpteenth record is the best Ive heard from Relapse this year, even though the length (34 minutes) isnt what Id call great. Theres some bonus footage, nonetheless.
8/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Fuck the Facts Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Skinless Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead
Relapse Records RR6446-2 2006
Brutal death incumbents Skinless utilize the soundclip like no other band War its fantastic! or so claims A Unilateral Disgust. Fronted by guttural vocals, which are typical of the subgenre, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead capitalizes on all things war. Steamrolling through tune after tune, the New York unit conjure scenes as chilling as whats on their latest cover art. Often mechanical and machine-like in regards to precision, the razor-y production lends jaggedness to the recording, and most tracks just plain slay. Unfortunately, similar to Fuck the Factss newest entry, this one lasts a brief 37 minutes including a 6-minute cover of Black Sabbaths Wicked World.
7.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Skinless Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Suffocation Suffocation
Relapse Records RR6584-2 2006
Possibly the most renowned and heralded group of this whole bunch, Suffocation return after the letdown that was/is Souls to Deny. The metal populous has spoken, and Self-Titled is evidently a return to form that surprisingly gives even milestones such as Effigy of the Forgotten and Pierced from Within a proverbial run for their money. While Im not exactly familiar with their oeuvre, their music strikes me as too bland and lifeless despite Mullens intelligible growling, Smiths tight drumming, and the sharp, sharp riffing. Perhaps I was expecting a more exciting release overall, but was left with something less entertaining in the end. Its definitely above average, however, and par for the Relapse course. Also of note is the 19-track sampler that accompanies Self-Titled. I cant comment on any other 2006 Relapse efforts simply because I havent heard more than one song from each, but Im betting, like the ones above, some are pretty good.
6.5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Suffocation Website
Official Relapse Records Website
