Rating: 8.8

Country: Czech Republic

Release Date: 2005

Track list:
01. "Nitro"
02. "Sick Atoms"
03. "Heroin"
04. "Tranquilizers"
05. "Crack And Cocaine" [mp3]
06. "Hallucinogens"
07. "Smoking"
08. "Ecstasy/Herbal Ecstasy"
09. "Alcohol"
10. "The Facts"
11. "Steroids"
12. "Ghb"
13. "Ritalin"
14. "Inhalants"
15. "Methamphetamine"
16. "Marijuana"
17. "Ketamine"
18. "Methcathinone"
19. "Rohypnol"

Band Website: Negligent Collateral Collapse

Negligent Collateral Collapse - Sick Atoms

Paul - Pigs and Frogs
Brain - Pix and Catguts
Ierich - Assault Party
Robocop - Nails and Catguts

Hurrah! Seeing as they are dependable merchants of unadorned yet innovative thus thoroughly enjoyable futuristic Grind, albums written by NCC are always a lot of fun. Having already had the pleasure of reviewing two superb releases from the Czech underground, namely the latest albums by Ingrowing and Fleshless, I've been lucky enough to receive another glintin' nugget from the very same Death/Grind gold-mine! This beaut is probably my favourite of the three, because of its heaving groove mechanisms, chrome plated chromatic chocks, binary drum scaffolds and the puthering plumes of vokill smoke-belch.

In the manner of previous releases, heavy-duty chugs and hardwearing blasts have been welded to a grease-logged internal Grind-chassis, the well-oiled system emitting catchy robotic clank cycles and mechanized clatterpatterns to great effect. It's bloody unfathomable how NCC possess such fresh shovelfuls of steamin' charisma and appeal when their music is often the coldest, most clinical and rudimentary form of frostily conceptual and ice-pick impenetrable Grindcore imaginable. Whilst not used sparingly, chaotic blast-beats 'n' shred do feature frequently amongst the primitive 'n ' pugnacious, detuned thuggery, though not enough to clutter up the structures with bothersome skin-rattle. In addition, put to good use are the writhing, malformed melodies that are emblematic to NCC, adding a portentous, ruinous feel to the already menacing atmosphere. Aside from the undeniable Grindnerve, blast-brawn and sadistic catchiness displayed by the band, the vokills have always been one of my main attractions to NCC. Shared amongst band personnel, the vokills are amusingly referred to in the inlay as 'pigs', 'frogs' and 'catguts'. Apparently performed without the use of a pitchshifter, the moist 'n' glutinous gutturals mangle each lyrical emission with liquefied mouth-flatulence, regorged with sub-throat perfection to create an ideal accompaniment to the pulsating groove. If applied correctly, this type of vokill can become an effective, rhythmic tool in itself, grinding corrugated sheets of stubborn rigidity together into one merciless whole. If used carelessly, the style can easily become bland, restricting and openly one-dimensional; hampering the material with the sort of inane burblin' that serves only to monochromize the overall sound. By and large, NCC succeed with their utterly amphibious yet often swinelike singing method, only this time around they seem to have taken on a more rounded, consistent shape, with less erratic squeally patches than previous outings.

To these ears of clotted crimson dribble, the album sounds like a cross between the transfixing, rapid-fire bludgeon of their 'Feynman' release from six years ago, and the lucid, streaming riffs of album afore last, 'Reprocess Data Segment Extender'. With regard to similar acts, a sizeable segment of 'Sick Atoms' can be likened to 'Sadochismo', the inescapable S&M steamroller helmed by one-time German Pornogrind saviours, Cock and Ball Torture. Harnessing said textural bondage, the band humiliates their compositions with the heavy-handed simplicity of something like 'Sexy Fat' by Mexican flab-fanciers, Carne. Occasionally, 'Sick Atoms' flirts with the anal-fringes of the sort of Porngroove indulgence purveyed by the likes of Rompeprop and, of course, [old] Mucupurulent, without drifting toward the monolithic monotone of Meatknife or the ludicrous minimalism of 'Internal Womb Cannibalism' by Sanatorium, but this thrifty use of total-groove decadence only adds to the experience. Produced in a manner that exacerbates the shuddering and mechanical performance, the hazy timbre results in a near-Lymphatic Phlegm atmosphere. On first listen, some of the vokills sound similar to the runny, rambling inhalations of Fermento or Poppy Seed Grinder, though on closer inspection it's clear that they possess the same intrinsic, pseudo-eructational gruffness of Pustulated or Screaming Afterbirth, with some of the choked 'n' chalky overtones of forgotten Swiss heroes Exulceration! Although they are deeply rooted in lush Grindsoil, some of the more insistent, midpaced chugdivisions and the sudden sprawling scales give NCC a vivid Brutal Death vitality. Despite my excessive evaluations and vague suggestions, NCC have forged a sound all of their own, one which remains as reassuringly flagrant as ever on 'Sick Atoms'.

Giving the guitars an extremely boxed-in, grain-stifled thud, the production harks back to the cavernous and isolated sound achieved with their early 7 inch EPs and split releases. Use of such production values for a band with a definitive, unstoppable-bulldozer style seems precarious, but in actual fact 'Sick Atoms' benefits muchly from being recorded within a claustrophobic, hollow pot-hole void, enhancing its slothful, primitive nature as well as embellishing its hardheaded blast.

Well known for their abstract themes and scrupulous concepts, NCC distance themselves from their previous spatial 'n' scientific dissertations with 'Sick Atoms', opting for a drug theme instead. The lyrical content provides such an exhaustive account of depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and chemicals that it reads like a comprehensive drugs awareness pamphlet. With one drug per song, the booklet offers information on all manner of mind-altering substances, including their cultivation/formulation and the way in which they affect the user, as well as their 'street-slang' and methods of consumption. The front cover cleverly combines salient drugs from the list, represented in glorious green and orange hues. The back cover features an amusing panel, featuring a woman sporting large headphones, reclining in a peaceful, serene manner of a 'The Essential Pure Classic Chillout Collection' triple-album cover model, with the caption 'Stop Everything. And listen to NCC'.

While loyal NCC fans will undoubtedly polish off every last crossed out note on this appetizing platter, it's sure to appeal to all listeners of exaggerated, modern-day European Grind, with its larger-than-life groove, interesting concept and over-the-top vokill fun. I eagerly await an unmissable, priceless performance from NCC during Obscene Extreme next week. I do hope they play "Ritalin".

July 14th, 2006