Say Bok Gwai - Say Bok Gwai
Monkey King Records 2004
By Russell Garwood
Thirty tracks. Thirty-three minutes? Grindcore album? Yeah, thats what I thought too. But I was wrong kind of. Say Bok Gwai are an unusual band indeed. This self titled release showcases a mix of grind, purer thrash and hardcore, and a healthy dose of punk. Add socio-political songs, nearly all sung in Cantonese, and occasional tongue-in-cheek English lyrics, and you have an unforgiving yet highly entertaining and original release. There is some variation in speed, with slower tracks showing melody, fast paced pieces being the punkiest, and ultra-fast grind songs providing the brutality. The guitars are diverse, showing many different styles. Dissonance is used to great effect, and when this is not the case, there is rarely any melody at all. No bassist is listed in the personnel, and - if there is one - they are well hidden in the mix. The drums can be sloppy at times, but are otherwise well performed, and fitting. The vocals are a mix between a crouch and a screech - nothing too unusual, but effective nevertheless.
Some of the more experimental outings on Say Bok Gwaican be very interesting, while the more straightforward pieces are sometimes enjoyable, and at other times too short. Muddy production is only to be expected. Overall, this is an unusual and enjoyable release. Far from perfect, it is nevertheless (largely) well performed, undoubtedly a pleasant break from the norm, and addresses some interesting issues. Well worth checking out for grind/hardcore fans.
7/10
Official Monkey King Records website
Official Say Bok Gwai website
Monkey King Records 2004
By Russell Garwood
Thirty tracks. Thirty-three minutes? Grindcore album? Yeah, thats what I thought too. But I was wrong kind of. Say Bok Gwai are an unusual band indeed. This self titled release showcases a mix of grind, purer thrash and hardcore, and a healthy dose of punk. Add socio-political songs, nearly all sung in Cantonese, and occasional tongue-in-cheek English lyrics, and you have an unforgiving yet highly entertaining and original release. There is some variation in speed, with slower tracks showing melody, fast paced pieces being the punkiest, and ultra-fast grind songs providing the brutality. The guitars are diverse, showing many different styles. Dissonance is used to great effect, and when this is not the case, there is rarely any melody at all. No bassist is listed in the personnel, and - if there is one - they are well hidden in the mix. The drums can be sloppy at times, but are otherwise well performed, and fitting. The vocals are a mix between a crouch and a screech - nothing too unusual, but effective nevertheless.
Some of the more experimental outings on Say Bok Gwaican be very interesting, while the more straightforward pieces are sometimes enjoyable, and at other times too short. Muddy production is only to be expected. Overall, this is an unusual and enjoyable release. Far from perfect, it is nevertheless (largely) well performed, undoubtedly a pleasant break from the norm, and addresses some interesting issues. Well worth checking out for grind/hardcore fans.
7/10
Official Monkey King Records website
Official Say Bok Gwai website
