When our head honcho asked me to review the latest Pelagic releases I snapped him up on the offer. Whether to just write an overview of the them all is something I debated with but as I listened to all four of the releases it became clear that an overview would be distinctly unfair so a separate review it is, as you’ve probably guessed as I know you’re an intelligent lot.
Pelagic is run by Robin Staps a musical visionary as far as I’m concerned as every single release that comes out on the Pelagic roster has something invariably unique about it, from the music to the packaging surrounding the records. This one is getting a 333 run (bet you spotted the connection didn’t you) on ten inch only vinyl so is pretty special but, as I’ve noticed with all Pelagic releases you do get a download code so you can stick the tunes on your electronic gizmo. There are only 2 songs to this release as well so I’ll let you do the math on the distribution and begins with “The Wild Bunch” as the experience of having four previous albums out is immediate; the dense and rich production afforded to the post hardcore industrially tinged music is obvious.
It is also fairly apparent that the band sounds like Neurosis, a trait that virtually every post industrial hardcore has to accept as the tune seethes with guitar distortion yet is strangely tuneful and addictive especially with the clean vocals which balance with the shouts with considerable effortlessness. Second tune is “Herbivores” which will hit you with its riff and melody like a freight train. Don’t misjudge my adjectives this is not supremely heavy it just feels very in your face with its musical ingenuity. Here there is more of a shouted vocal style, not the silly angry teenage metalcore style, but the guy sounds seriously hacked off about something all the while trying to convey a message. In places the heaviness reminded me of October File as well as the industrial vibe of the drums which adds to the expression of this EP. There is a bit of hypnosis to the tune as well, with the beat repeating and hammering home to ingrain into those already saturated short and long term memory regions of your brain.
(7.5/10 Martin Harris)
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