I mean what else are you supposed to call a band featuring Napalm Death’s Shane Embury and Mick Kenney of Anaal Nathrakh fame? I would’ve been partial to the Care Bears, but not sure if that would fly on an LP titled The Infinite Mirror of Millennial Narcissism (Extrinsic Recordings).
Naturally learning of the band’s pedigree brought in lofty expectations. I remember listening to Napalm Death’s Scum (Earache) in college and being thoroughly mindfucked by ‘You Suffer.’ Or the time I played Anaal Nathrakh’s ‘I Am the Wrath of Gods and the Desolation of the Earth’ in my brother’s car and completely shattering and reconstructing his conception of how extreme metal could get.
Good times.
First off, does this count as an official LP? I know all the material I’ve read refer to it as a full length, but all’ve got is about 17 minutes of music and without taking into consideration that four of the tracks exist as shortened primers of what’s to follow. Don’t get me wrong, 17 minutes is an adequate amount of time to deliver the goods if in the right hands. So, the question is what does it sound like?
Well, with members of Napalm Death and Anaal Nathrakh you’re inevitably going to get savage musical beatdowns that borrow from those revered stalwarts. And why the fuck not take from the best, especially if you are the best.
Throughout the album we seesaw from frantic black metal tremolo and atmosphere right into frantic grindcore shred all while the drum programming is dialed way up to eleven. Not much room for shifting dynamics or contemplation here folks, just a killer’s pace. The Anaal side is on heavy display on the blinding madness of ‘Genesis Misconception’ and the blackened sound (moody keys and all) manifests itself on ‘Corruption Feeds Deception.’ Click a track or two over and the Napalm portion of the act is in full scale military bombardment on bruisers like ‘Negativity Plague’ and ‘How Barren if Life Without Sin.’
You can’t deny the musical genetics, but it isn’t quite enough. I may need a bit more run time and songs that further bend deeper into the Kenney’s black and industrial bag or perhaps some of Napalm’s slower moments.
Until then we’ll enjoy the brick shower that is The Infinite Mirror of Millennial Narcissism.
7.0/10
HANS LOPEZ