Concrete Lung - Tolerance & Dependency

It's not often that I get entirely tied down by the vast majority of anything metal; I usually find a lot of the releases within that category entirely skip worthy (metalheads, feel free to start bashing me now). However, there is that once in a while band that comes along and brings me a few tracks that I can stand up and have a one man mosh to. Feeling bad for the inanimate objects in my path as I swing my arms ravenously and headbanging like a wannabe metaller, I proudly present to you the latest EP from Concrete Lung.

I will start off by saying that these two have pushed forward in their progress, allowing a new sound to emerge. Saying, "Fuck you!" to their ever present drum machine just fit right in with their lo-fi sound that they have so focused on. And their unity of different genres has Oxime saying, "We have always sen outselves as a crossover project, we continue to draw influence from a mixture of industrial, punk, and death metal, and we are here to kick some shit out of all those genres."

And they certainly are proving that they are capable of evacuating the bowels of the aforementioned genres. Even then, the influences are drawn, but you can be most assured that a full on metal assault is what you'll really be getting. Engine Vein was the perfect choice as an introductory track; I noticed my hard on for this track as I caught myself - unknowingly - head-bobbing to this song. Would not go so far as to say headbanging, as I didn't have a headache at this point, nor did I lose my sense of balance. Anyway, the track shows off the newfound drums, and that was the main driving force of the song, cracking out a wicked rhythm. The angered vocals that shouted and growled the whole way through complimented the rough tone nicely.

And from there on out, they continue the overall theme nicely. Growling vocals, awesome guitar and drum work, and all the other workings distribute nicely from song to song. What's worth pointing out on the album would be the Gothic undertones found within Plastic Mind. And I only say that because an amazing bell sample plays throughout, and the intro to the song was done in a cinematic fashion.

Other than that, you can just chill out in the darkest corner of your room/house/town/city and be a miserable, angry fuck while listening to this. The mood of the EP can definitely transform the happiest of ceremonies into a place of dread and despair, but in the best manner possible. Check'em out. See what you think. Dec 04 2014