Braindead- “No Consequences”
Braindead- “No Consequences”- Braindead forge out a dense, metallic grind that sounds like a more streamlined version of Quicksand. The band's debut, “No Consequences”, relies as much upon metal as it does punk, but that makes the music all the more effective. Braindead’s attempt at punky fury simply isn’t as strong as their brutal, gut-level heavy riff-rockers. Vocalist, Stevie spews out enough angst-ridden lyrics, but what is important is how his voice fits into the dense wall of sound. Braindeads's music is about powerful anger and persistent hammering of dark riffs and “No Consequences” delivers the goods. Braindead's heavy metal influence is distinguished not by the band's hooks but by its precision -- they grind their riffs into the ground, never alleviating their intensity. “No Consequences” isn't as murky as say a Slayer album and it contains tighter, better-constructed songs, all of which makes for a deliberate lack of melody excusable. Then again, the point isn't melody -- Braindead is about sheer sound, in all of its distorted glory. If you like that sound, the album delivers the goods. post-hardcore heroes Braindead is a far cry from wildly compressed rock but its reliance on hardcore sensibilities and metallic guitars makes perfect sense in the context of the band's formation. Led by their singer Stevie & Drummer Chico, Braindead takes a familiar hardcore stance, with plenty of chunky breakdowns and rousing vocal yelps. Giving this album a bit more credibility is the influence of complicated metal structures throughout the ten tracks, mostly in the form of wailing guitars with alternately pummeling chord structures. Stevie's voice may not be in its best form here, but he can handle the stretches and he certainly puts his entire heart into every word he sings and screams. Braindead is unbelievably tight and there is not an inconsistent moment on this album, from the abrasive opening of "Sure Is Lonely Down Here” to the squealing harmonics of "Exercise In Bad Taste". Braindead starts out angry and loud and ends just as angry and loud, is all the proof I need to tell me they never hold back a thing.
www.myspace.com/braindeadhxc