Although they have been around for some time and Bites Rites is the second album from the curiously named US band Rabbits, this is album is my introduction to the band, as I have never heard any of their music before.
Bite Rites is a compact attack of 26 minutes of utter sludge madness, as the music on this album falls in the more aggressive end of sludge music. Thus, Rabbits generally eschew ultra-heavy and doom-laden passages, focusing instead on more uptempo and, at times, punky tempos. There are a couple of heavy sections, as heard in "Suck It or Blow", while "On Mars II" is a dark and brooding piece of droning soundscape-art, but mostly, the listenser is treated to primitive up- and midtempo riffs performed on very crunchy and fuzzy guitars. Seemingly embracing the aesthetics of noise rock, Rabbits are not afraid of feedback and dissonance (as heard in the almost avant-garde noisefest "What's Going On"), and the vocals are consequently harsh and angry, which suits the music quite well.
As with most things sludge, Rabbits' Bites Rites is a challenging listen and definitely an acquired taste, but if you like the crunchy and noisy side of sludge music, but prefer more aggressive tempos, then chances are that you will have found what you were looking for in this album.
Tracklist:
1. We and Zoo
2. Fight Right
3. Lame In Vain
4. Move Her Body
5. Meth Valley 99
6. 2:35
7. Suck It Or Blow
8. On Mars II
9. What's Going On
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
