Labrat Ruining It For everyone
Visible Noise 27 May 2002 TORMENT26CD
By Russell Garwood
London band Labrat recently signed to Visible Noise, through whom their latest album, Ruining It For Everyone is released. The four piece play an amalgamation of extreme styles grindcore with post/hardcore and metal elements, bringing several bands such as Iron Monkey, Slayer and December to mind. Vocals, courtesy of Rob McAuslan, range from deep growls, through higher rasps and shouts, to piercing screeches. Under this are blasting, high speed drums (by Nathan Perrier), grinding bass and Steve Le Voguers pummelling guitars, creating a battering assault. There are, however, as a respite from the violent ferocity of the majority, slower more melodic efforts (see: Hilarys Song) which even make use of occasional samples.
Standouts on Ruining It For Everyone are hard to pick as the songs tend to merge into one extreme effort. Diary Of A Piss Drinker serves as an excellent display of McAuslans vocal range and the talents of bassist Adam Sagir, while Retention shows impressive guitars and some successful time changes. Hilarys Song is an intriguing break and Instant Karma showcases accomplished drumming. Clint Eastward Is Very Hard, Innit exhibits the bands sense of humour to the full (in case you hadnt guessed from titles like Father Son And Holy Goat and Pheulled By Farmiceuticals).
The production, as can be expected, is not wonderful, but its raw quality is just what the music needs. With Ruining It For Everyone the band provide an intense onslaught that can start to feel monotonous by the end of the album. If you want something brutal and short, but not death, Labrat could be just what you are looking for
Visible Noise 27 May 2002 TORMENT26CD
By Russell Garwood
London band Labrat recently signed to Visible Noise, through whom their latest album, Ruining It For Everyone is released. The four piece play an amalgamation of extreme styles grindcore with post/hardcore and metal elements, bringing several bands such as Iron Monkey, Slayer and December to mind. Vocals, courtesy of Rob McAuslan, range from deep growls, through higher rasps and shouts, to piercing screeches. Under this are blasting, high speed drums (by Nathan Perrier), grinding bass and Steve Le Voguers pummelling guitars, creating a battering assault. There are, however, as a respite from the violent ferocity of the majority, slower more melodic efforts (see: Hilarys Song) which even make use of occasional samples.
Standouts on Ruining It For Everyone are hard to pick as the songs tend to merge into one extreme effort. Diary Of A Piss Drinker serves as an excellent display of McAuslans vocal range and the talents of bassist Adam Sagir, while Retention shows impressive guitars and some successful time changes. Hilarys Song is an intriguing break and Instant Karma showcases accomplished drumming. Clint Eastward Is Very Hard, Innit exhibits the bands sense of humour to the full (in case you hadnt guessed from titles like Father Son And Holy Goat and Pheulled By Farmiceuticals).
The production, as can be expected, is not wonderful, but its raw quality is just what the music needs. With Ruining It For Everyone the band provide an intense onslaught that can start to feel monotonous by the end of the album. If you want something brutal and short, but not death, Labrat could be just what you are looking for
