Sabato 5 Set 2009, 22:59
Angelspit are one of my favourite bands, I always love the level of detail and experimentation in their work, and thankfully Hideous and Perfect keeps up this tradition and provides us with what I consider to be their most obscure record thus far.
Known for being somewhat dark and brutal, Hideous and Perfect takes everything you have come to welcome from the Australian duo and multiplies it by 10. Prepare yourself and your eardrums for some serious punishment, this album does not pull any punches!
Opener, Ditch The Rest, is a more typical affair, and would have sounded very much at home on Krankhaus (which can’t be a bad thing) It opens with a lovely synth and bouncy riff, the kind that lets you know that this shit HAS to be Angelspit! Cue DestroyX… venomously spitting the lyrics at you. The song builds slightly to a rather electronic chorus fuelled by a distorted guitar. Already, it is noticeable that they have paid more attention to instrument experimentation and song arrangement this time, as the song breaks down into a deep pounding bridge! This is the stuff dreams are made of, very much a song to stomp along too!
Cold Hard Cash is the next offering, and has a particularly visceral introduction; it sounds almost what I expect a car crash to sound like. This track is lead by Zoog, which I personally love! The vocals here are very distorted (maybe a little over processed?) but the chorus is loud and thumping and blends both vocals into one androgynous voice! This song has clear influences from Blood Death Ivory and didn’t grab me initially; Instrumentally there doesn’t seem to be much going on.
Third up is the intriguingly titled Fink. This track also has a very interesting opening, and AMAZING vocal work. The echo effect on DestroyX as she delivers the vocals is lush! I really like this song, as it is so vocally interesting (Zoog is also present), and a lot of work has gone into intricate synths and riffs that take multiple listens to hear. This is one of the more interesting songs from the album, and fits in lovely as a song that is incomparable to most of their earlier material.
Previously released as a promo sample, Fuck The Revolution is next. This track reminds me of Nurse Grenade, and has a much less produced sound than a lot of their work. This fist clencher is pushed forward by a heavy guitar riff and bubbly synths, this track is pretty raw ground for Angelspit and is somewhat simple yet very effective. Influences from bands like KMFDM are clear here. Not the strongest effort from Hideous and Perfect, although the lyrics are absolutely delicious. “Take your chain saw, wield it recklessly”
On Earth is an instrumental track that showcases Angelspit’s ability to have fun with their music. This is pretty harsh listening, distorted and twisted it acts as a great opener for the next track…
… Which is Making Money. Another experimental song (as far an Angelspit’s sound is concerned) this also has a distinct Blood Death Ivory sound to it, only much less polished! I’m not really sure what to think of this track, it doesn’t have much of an immediate hook, other than the robot DestroyX chirping the words “Making Money” every now and then. This, like much of the album, is a heavy offering and pulsates from start to finish! It is when the song slows down and has fun that it becomes interesting, the latter half of the song is far superior! My biggest problem here is how generic it sounds; I’d consider this to be the first filler on the album.
DROOOOOOL. Sleep Now opens with Zoog’s luscious calm vocals supported by a rather “dance” synth, later this is joined by yet another guitar. Vocals take a back seat here, this track showcases experimentation and is rather unsettling to listen to… random vocal samples and squeaks are added to keep the listener on their toes. Of all the offerings thus far this is the quietest song but makes up for it in mounds and mounds creepiness. You will not know what to expect next, and it is so nice for them to produce some this unpredictable. A standout track!!!
Channel Hell is next… prepare your middle finger. This opening sounds like a videogame from the 8-bit era, and sounds a lot less Industrial than usual and much more electronic. More unsettling metal sounds are thrown in for good measure as DestroyX plows through a harsh vocal delivery. This song isn’t breaking any new ground but it extremely pleasant to listen to. The whispered vocal work on the chorus is great, and in true Angelspit style, the latter third of the track really goes for it with harsh vocals and clapping (yes, clapping) Simply put this is just a typical Angelspit song, and an absolute pleasure for your ears!
Next up, possibly my favourite track, its Let Them Eat Distortion. Another promo sample track, this is the better of the two. Lyrically I adore this song, and DestroyX’s vocal delivery here is extremely satisfying. She venomously smashes her lyrics home with as much vitriol as she can muster. Everything about this song is throbbing and warped; it hammers along to a steady beat with regular synthesised intervals and anthem like lyrics. This would make a brilliant single and an even better video. An absolute must listen.
The gorgeously named Hyperlust follows. This is another track that originally blended into the background but with further listens it hooked me. It is a little subtler in its deliver than the others, I don’t mean it is quiet or easy listening; it just has much more intricacies than others. The synth work here is pant wetting stuff, your brain will follow them round in loops until it wants to explode, and the chanting vocal work at the end that accompanies it will have you stamping your feet and banging your head. Another very good track that ties up the best of Krankhaus and forces itself down your throat!
I wonder if this next track is named after DestroyX? Princess Chaos is a stormer of a track. Clearly inspired by their more recent works, this song sounds much cleaner and fresh than anything else here! The vocal work is brilliant yet again, and contorts in a very unnerving manner; the mixture of both sets of female vocals works a treat. Skinny Little Bitch and Get Even came to mind here; it has a very feminine yet murderous feel that bounces along to fast paced clanks and smashes. This track would be amazing to dance too, and is one of the more gothic offerings from Hideous and Perfect!
Finally we come to the album closer, As It Is In Heaven. The first half of this track is instrumental and very interesting listening. An alarm sound rings through a springy synth, joined later by clinks and clanks. This track really does have a pulse and is unlike anything else I’ve ever heard from them before. The long vocal free opener breaks down a little and prepares you for vocal inclusion. Zoog begins to sing in a most bizarre and disconcerting way, somewhat reminiscent of Marilyn Manson without the growl. Cue complete instrumental meltdown and then back to the clinks and clanks, this time joined by an extremely pleasurable distorted guitar. This song is a journey, it takes a few twists and turns, and a very enjoyable one at that. As a showcase for a new more experimentally intricate Angelspit this track works brilliantly, and actually gains from the lack of DestroyX’s vocals. What a closer!
8/10
Standouts – Fink, Let Them Eat Distortion, Sleep Now