The Pitch: Caustic, miserable sludgecore from Boise's Throes via Holy Roar Records. FFO: Cult Leader, Harms Way, Jesus Piece
What I Like: In The Hands Of An Angry God likes to take the bludgeoning, metal-infused hardcore of Harms Way and drag it down to a sludgy, dismal pace. It's powder keg of blood and thunder, and as a result the opposing elements have an additive effect on their counterparts. The harder, faster portions kick like a mule when followed by the mournful dirges ("Fang," anyone?), and said dirges seem even more dreary and sorrowful after things go nuclear. In addition to the obvious heaviness of the crushing drums, rumbling bass, and ferocious vocals, Throes also deliver quite a bit of nihilistic atmosphere via the noisey, dissonant guitars and spacious production. Cult Leader is perhaps the closest comparison, but it also evokes the same darkness as the likes of Ulcerate and Deathspell Omega. I'm also digging the clear Deftones vibes on "Disillusion."
Critiques: Song length can be an issue. While I enjoy the variation between the two major styles, often the sludgy portions drag on a bit too long. "Derelict" is a good example of this. To be sure, it's a smouldering crater of fury, but at a fairly repetetive six and a half minutes, I start checking the time.
The Verdict: While I think that the album would benefit from a few more punctuated moments of D-beat, overall no one can argue that In The Hands Of An Angry God is not a positively pummeling affair. Throes' sound intrigues me, and more than anything I'm interested to see where they take some of the more experimental elements in the future.
Flight's Fav's: Bad Meat, Fang, Nothing New
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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