32 tracks in 25 minutes? It's got to be hyperspeed grind then, hasn't it?
Italian trio Balatonizer manage to rise above this somewhat staid genre,
however, through dint of their technical skills, crisp production, excellent
drum-machine programming and occasional sense of restrained experimentation...
Oh, and not to forget their refreshingly tongue-in-cheek attitude.
Yes, while this is as blindingly fast and brutal a grindcore platter
as you could possibly wish for, these guys don't simply plunder the
Carcass back catalogue and take the rest of the day off. No, these
guys impress with their brutal-yet-complex riffage and ear for dissonance
which makes tracks like 'C.E.D.' and 'Caimme' memorable. Couple that with
occasional skilful use of synths to add a 'carnival of horrors' atmosphere
to the backdrop of some of the tracks, plus Balatonizer's near-Nasum-esque
skill at dropping in mid-tempo grind-breakdowns at opportune moments, and you
have an accomplished release deserving of a wider audience.
On the downside, the somewhat clinical drum sound betrays their artificial
nature (despite the excellent programming), and the unusually (for a grind album)
crisp and balanced production can be somewhat distracting. However, this allows the
riffs to shine through, and Balatonizer have some really impressive chops. Well worth
your time if you're a dedicated grindfreak looking for something a little different.
7.5/10
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