Feeding Frenzy: Cognizance, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol and more

Cognizance – Phantazein (album)

It’s time to get tech-ed up with Cognizance on their new full-length, Phantazein

Straight out of the gate, this reminds me of Glasgow legends, Man Must Die. Ripping through riffs with melody still cutting through, the album kicks off with a pretty intense, condensed number in Ceremonial Vigour. Diversifying from this, deep texturing is applied with shimmering guitar overlays, and some intriguing rhythmic sensibilities, with slick, smooth grooves jumping into the spaces between. As if that wasn’t enough, we’re also treated, here and there, to a tumbling flair akin to the signature sound of one Dave Davidson. There are no catchy choruses to speak of, or anything like that. There is, however, consistently something refreshed on offer for the connoisseur of technical brutality, with historic influences contorted into a future facing assault. As aggressive as it is emotionally engaging, Phantazein is one to add to the canon of its own particular subgenre. Get it smashed right into your ears, now!

“A+”

Slow Dragon

Final Coil – The World We Inherited (album)

Final Coil are back with what is most likely the most genuinely Gothic album of 2024 so far.

It’s been a year since we covered Final Coil. Nearly three years, in fact, last reviewing their Somnambulant II EP in 2021. Nevertheless, it’s a name and a sound which has stuck in my mind. For their latest offering, The World We Inherited, they’ve doubled down on everything which first grabbed my attention, and added to it. This is now a much expanded effort, with a far greater sonic mass than before. Yeah, I can still here mid 90s Nine Inch Nails in there, surely an undeniable influence. Yet, a more accomplished understanding of where they come from – and what they can do with that – is tangibly evident. There’s something of a reflection of Tool in grandeur, but, as they’re known for steering well clear of over-played wankiness, it lands with a Helmet-esque grittiness. I’m supposed to be good with words. And music. But every so often, there’s a release which has to be heard to fully appreciate its magnitude. TWWI is one such album. It’s also boosted by a stadium band production, and you can’t really go wrong having the visual aspect handled by Very Metal Art. All in, a huge stack has been invested in making this a stellar production, and Final Coil deserve all recognition for it. They’ve totally nailed it this time.

“A+”

Slow Dragon

Kurnel Fist – Floating In Motion (EP)

Release Date: 15th January 2024||Genre: Stoner rock/doom||Label: Self released

Kurnel Fist smash together classic doom and blues for their new, trippy 7 track

Speaking to members of this fuzzed up trio recently, they protested their innocence against accusations of being a metal band. However, when they reach peak heaviness on Floating In Motion, it is rather earthshaking. It’s barely conceivable that there is a fatter sound on the planet. At the polar opposite of their riff-pool is hauntingly melodic breed of blues. And there are a multitude of other stylings at play to boot. One minute it’s Sabbath on ketamine, the next a purple haze of Satriani-ish funk. Roadhouse rock solos? Yup. Alice In Chains vocal harmonies? You got it! Throwing in some progressive twists for good measure, they somehow manage a very organic blending in of early Tool-isms. I think Spiritual Beggars and late 90s RHCP may also have a lot to answer for here. Floating… is, despite feeling like one thing, a quite diverse release, with many flowing dips and rises as it moves along. I guess that might be where the title came from. It’s not radge. It’s not brutal. And yet, good people, I stand by the previous charge. This is indeed a metal album. Albeit an easy going one.

“A-” 

Slow Dragon

Mindslaver – Deceptive Thoughts (EP)

Release date: 12th January 2024||Genre: Hardcore metal||Label: Self released

German hardcore/metal crew, Mindslaver, hit hard and heavy with their new EP, Deceptive Thoughts

After catching these guys live at Denmark’s Odense Metalfest last October, I was excited to see what this fresh recorded material had to offer. It does not disappoint. Pretty much top of my list in terms of hardcore bands at the aforementioned event, one of the big appeals was you could feel yourself being pulled pit-wards. On record, that same sensation persists, and that is a hard achievement. Are the songs short? Ish… This is hardcore though, and, brevity aside, each track is meatily satisfying. If you’re old enough, you’ll understand what Hatebreed originally meant to those of us who straddled the divide between hardcore and proper metal. This taps that vein wholly, so perhaps it will appeal more to that generation. On the other hand, it could feel like something fresh for newcomers. Either way, this is top tier stuff in this particular neckwrecking arena, and I just can’t fault it. If you want music which will put you in the mood to destroy something, this is it!

“A-“

Slow Dragon

Retched – The Overlord Messiah (album)

The only way is the old school way, all the way, for Retched on re-issued album The Overlord Messiah

Top to bottom, this album is fully committed to the classic art form of heavy metal. The riffs, the vocals, the lyrics, and the production are exactly that intangible experience one used to get rolling the dice in a record store. You’d see the cover art, and the cool band name, but before the existence of Spotify, YouTube, et al, there was rarely a try-before-you-buy option. Sometimes you struck gold. Sometimes you unearthed a festering stinker. The Overlord Messiah is certainly more towards the top end of that scale. Yes, it’s old fashioned as hell …and there is something very comforting about that. Somewhere in time, there’s a compilation from a parallel dimension, where one of the tracks from this opus is sandwiched between Angel Witch and Black Metal. Fans of classic Mercyful Fate, Raven, and Di’Anno era Maiden should give this a day in court.

“B+”

Slow Dragon

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Big Dumb Riffs (album)

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol get stupid on album number 6, Big Dumb Riffs.

For those fans who can read, this does exactly what is says on the tin. Tuned to drop Z, the riffs are certainly big, and they are certainly dumb. That’s no insult. The sights were set, and the target achieved. All the blues edge of their previous releases has been dumped in a roadside ditch, while the band rip off down the blacktop without a care in the world. With the daftness of Primus, and none of the virtuosity, this is a ridiculously effective and addictive album. I must have given it half a dozen spins without writing a single word about it, just for the pure, primal enjoyment. The whole album is one concrete donkey chug after another, swamped with catchy, alt rock lyrics, and undeniably fucking cool. You could try to hate it for its simplicity, yeah, but you’d only be lying to yourself. Big Dumb Riffs is big dumb fun, and I think people will be talking about this one for many years. A likely cult classic for sure.

“A+” (and a very special hat, with a chair in the corner)

Slow Dragon