The brief snippets I heard of this Australian band were enough for me to want to review this latest release for the site, before which I did a proper swing through their discography to get a feel for how the band has developed and shows an act as vitriolic as they are venomously precise on all their songs. This third full length has seen the band release their first album for Relapse and I am sure the relationships is going to be a very productive one after hearing the 22 minutes this subjects you to.
The album is bookended by the first part of its title and the second part of the title and offers a sort of introduction and finale, with the rest of the tracks blazing by in between. Opener ‘Currency’ has an instrumental build-up styling with aggressive hardcore riffage straddling a vicious punk vibrancy that also possesses a healthy quotient of mosh to it. ‘Chained To A Gate’ follows where the bass hook drives into its opening constructing a chaotic dissonant assault with truly hostile vocals that tear the throat to pieces. The acerbic lyrical affront suits everything perfectly and whilst I didn’t analyse them in depth it is clear the Melbourne band are angry, really angry, at everything and probably everyone, which of courses suits the music brilliantly.
‘Cut You Down’ retains the chaotic stance and as the song smashes in you get the feeling the band is blasting its music straight at you, in a good way of course, as their old school riffing harks back to the 80s where you could name any act from the US scene back then to get an idea of where this act stands. The outright virulence of this release never lets up, as ‘Clock Keeps Crawling’ maintains the impetus with a drum fill typical of very mid 80s hardcore punk but done with a massive dose of utter potency and extremely catchy.
More bass riffing adorns the opening on ‘Fog Of War’ as that catchiness remains before the impending speed surge and contrasts somewhat with the longer ‘The Fix Is In’ where distorted guitar work scrapes at your skull before the expected riff change and rampant speed insertion. A short bridging piece links into ‘Hanging From A Rope’ which again is slightly longer offering a dissonant demolition tempered by some very cool bass work saturated with malicious melody. ‘Gas Of Corruption’ is a sub one minute explosion of aggression and at first the riff had me thinking about Christ On Parade, if you’ve ever heard of that bunch, with an ending riff break that is bloody immense.
Into the last three tracks and ‘Success’ is similar to what this album is completely about, as the scathing vocals have an inhuman quality before the rancorous racket that appears on ‘Secret Prison’. The screeching guitar work brandishes that chaotic vibe I’ve mentioned as closing the release is the second part of the title track as I mentioned and if anything feels like the aftermath to the unmitigated assault you’ve bore witness to. I noticed the band played a gig the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne, which I assume was the release gig for this album, and a venue I am familiar with as I have been there twice when I visited Australia a few years ago for a couple of gigs. I do hope the band gets a chance to make it over the UK and Europe as I for one would absolutely love to see them live.
A cracking third album by Geld, one for hardcore purists that want to be completely annihilated and mauled.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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