The Pitch: Denver metallic hardcore band Remain and Sustain tear s#!t up with their new album Flesh Bound. FFO: Code Orange, Kublai Khan, Knocked Loose
What I Like: And with that opening Se7en sample, the tone is perfectly set for one of the darkest, heaviest metallic hardcore outings to date. Seriously. I listen to a lot of new material in this subgenre, but few convey such a complete and utter absence of hope or reprieve. This is not a "fun" album to listen to; quite to the contrary it is a veritable dragging of flesh across concrete and stomping of teeth into curb. It seems fitting that every live performance of Flesh Bound be delivered outdoors in the unforgiving heart of winter; ankle deep in grey slush and clutching collars to hold in the warmth. The vocals have such a primal sense of bitterness and disdain unrivaled by most, and the chunky, breakdown-heavy riffs repeatedly batter the listener for seemingly no reason other than occupying the same space. The opening of the title track in particular is absolute caveman brutality mixed with shrieking dissonance, and for a real adrenaline-pumper toss on the D-beat driven "Victim."
Critiques: While the interludes and slower parts do broaden the dynamics, they come off as a simple necessity as opposed to an enjoyable part of the album. I'd like to see a little more thought put into how best roll these more organically into the runtime.
The Verdict: Remain and Sustain are blunt force trauma incarnate. If you like your hardcore stupid heavy above all else, Flesh Bound is a no-brainer purchase.
Flight's Fav's: Victim, Flesh Bound, Crushed By The Mind
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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