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Release Date: 2007 Record Label: Self Released Track list:
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Imposters - Imposters EP
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Jon - riffage and sorcery. |
As stated in my write-up of the split CD-r by The Afternoon Gentlemen and Warboys, I have a tendency to become inept ‘n' inapt when attemptin' to pen impartial articles about friends' bands and fellate rather than evaluate, the result being a review that decorously gobbles the collective band-gland. That happened on my last review, and it's likely to happen here too, so here goes!
This recent Impostors recording was handed to me by the bass player, who lives next door, and it contains an extremely potent amalgamation of vigorous Grindcore and hideous Death Metal. Guitars plough along with weighty aplomb, weavin' convoluted phrases around jarring, jagged-edge riff serration and heavily palm-muted chug-outs, galvanized ‘n' concretized by a clearly defined rhythm section. Though there are plenty of blasts to go around, the snare maltreatment and kick-abuse is not mindless ‘n' unbridled; the chugs ‘n' break downs are pinned together with cohesive, effective patterns in order to retain song flow. The songwriting is half catchy ‘n' half technical, which gives the work quite an unsettlin' ‘n' explosive atmosphere, an effect further increased by the progressive compositions and their vicious deliveries, finalized by the deafening vokill accompaniment of furious howls and hysterical, piercing shrieks. Two thirds of the material use intricate motifs of riff machine-code to direct the song towards the ultimate goal of satisfyin' chunkiness, a method put to exemplary use on the closing number, which causes much riffular noggin-sodomy afore lobbin' you headfirst into stabbedy jagment. Although the tracks are vacuum-packed with deft diversions ‘n' time-changes, the band remember to reiterate significant bits o' catchiness, introducin' important grooves back into the song afore they become smothered.
With a livid delivery and chug/smash balance akin to Nasum, an impulsive ‘n' obliterative Pig Destroyer approach, this work would sit pretty alongside notable Grind-inclined acts within the Relapse music group. Whilst the vox thereupon remain high pitched ‘n' vicious, the more metallic side o' the Imposters coin reveals a likeness perhaps to such Death Metal luminaries as Krisiun, Monstrosity ‘n' Deicide, as well as an appreciation of the truculent chugulence of Pantera career-highlight Far Beyond Driven.
Although it's resulted in a squashed ‘n' boxy sound quality, the production job has enough clarity to carry the thing, with plentiful bass distinction and a forceful overall kit sound, especially the kicks, whose close-miked reproduction gives ‘em a lovely thunderous timbre that stabs you right in the ol' solar plexus. The dual vokills are also handled well with good coherence ‘tween the two and an effective use of pannin' that lobs heinous screams to each side for optimum ear buggery.
In spite of the slightly skeletal sound ‘n' slightly restricted vokill range, this cleverly written, skillfully executed trio o' tunes, with its unpredictable, threatenin' atmosphere and venomous gnash, is promising indeed. Alas, the band dissolved recently so I can't imagine there's a full-length in the pipeline, so shut yer face and find this EP.
December 9th, 2007
    
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