CATCH THIRTYTHREE

Some people are going to find this album very hard to get into. It absolutely is not for everyone. Some will not be able to get past its uncompromsing heaviness, others will not enjoy the sheer dark nature of this album.

I will often criticize a band for lacking emotion, but not this one. If you come looking for emotion, you've come to the wrong place. This is bleak, uncompromisng, soulless vision. And I love it.

I consider it about as progressive as you can get. This is essentially one song, broken up into movements with track titles. It is intentionally harsh and dissonant at times, the same way an art film might use long cuts to make the viewer feel down. If you don't appreciate this kind of thing, then stop reading, you aren't going to like this album. This is a brutal, visionary album. For me it conjures up images of biomechanical landscapes, and H.R. Giger wet dream of sorts.

With lyrics like "Vision will blind. Severance ties. Median am I. True are all lies," you are going to have to realize that they are not trying to make catchy, soothing music. Rather, something you dig into, and feel on a more punctual and primal level. It is so difficult to describe, that all I can really suggest is that you give the samples here a listen, give them a few chances, and if they haven't started to grab you at all, its probably not for you.

I have heard tons of ranting and raving about how incredibly technical this album is, but not being a musician myself, there is no way I can relate to it, but for those who dig complex polyrhythms and difficult 8-string guitar playing, they are here. Not a factor in my score, but a heads up for those who might find it compelling.