Boy, now this is some harsh stuff. Crisis is definitely not for everybody. What we have here is aggressive, reasonably well written songs, ably performed by a very musically tight bunch of fellows, with a singer who is easily one of the most distinctive I've ever heard.
What makes Karyn Crisis so distinctive? It's hard to describe. At times, she has a beautiful voice, but I'm sure she's doing some permanent damage to it with the outrageous vocal calisthenics that make up most of the album. High pitched, growling screams somehow manage to form words, and it's through these sounds that Karyn tells us horrifying stories of alienation, fear, and torment.
The album starts out on a great note, with the fascinating, truly unique instrumental "Onslaught." Unfortunately, Crisis never really gets any better than this opening track, and what follows is interesting, if a little bit grating, standard metal rambling. The ultra-dark tone of the compositions make this a real drag to listen to, and the brutal and questionable artwork that adorns the liner notes doesn't make things any better.
Deathshead Extermination seems to have some big intentions, but the band never lets itself out of its self-imposed bad-assedness to explore them. I've heard heavier music that was more melodic than this, and I've heard harsher singers that came across better than this. It's a sadly ineffectual combination.
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
