Afgrund / Relevant Few
Split CD
6.7
Synopsis:
Despite the tragic demise of Nasum, the painful truth is that other bands will try and fill the void left by the band’s circumstances. It seems callous, but is the natural order of things. Bands like Rotten Sound, Skitsystem, Gadget, Squash Bowels and new formed youngsters Afgrund and veterans Relevent Few will always be termed as ‘the next Nasum’ or such and in Afgrund’s case, not so much in Relevent Few’s, that’s a pretty accurate statement.
Review:
Comprising the first 9 tracks of this 16 track split, Afgrund are the very epitome of pure, Nasum styled Swedish grind; sub two minute bursts of razor sharp mid range guitars, punishing percussion and dual vocals kicking out punishing power chords and grooves at breakneck speed. Tracks such as “Spoad”, “Mental Mur”, “I Diket Jag Legat” and Nu Javlar” blaze by with a painfully precise, Nasum-like assault, arguably the best Nasum-ish band I’ve heard. There’s even a couple of more developed tracks that round out their side of the EP as “Obrutna Monster” starts and ends with a huge groove and the five-minute “Det Sista Brevet” is a slow burner for its last two and a half minutes.
Sweden’s revamped Relevant Few have had their share of success, having some prior members serve in Gardenian, Lord Belial, Runemagick and The Project Hate as well as a Century Media re-issued version of their 2003 release, The Art Of Today and supporting runs with the afore mentioned Nasum as well as Napalm Death. Their six tracks are culled from their recent Hardening Black EP after The Arson Project, who was initially slated to share this split pulled out. Their sound is less obviously Nasum-ish, but certainly tangibly comparable on a base level but with a crustier, more twisted, experimental and varied approach to grindcore that should appeal to fans of Napalm Death, Antigama, Brutal Truth and such. The tracks are longer, a little less caustic, but no less vitriolic and a few more death metal-ish moments surface as heard in “New Age”, loping start of “Hunting the Architect” , the schizophrenic “Everyone is Judas” and the unpredictable “Towards the Black”.
Both bands here show promise and both seemed primed to carry the flag of the grindcore underground with upcoming full length albums and both should be quality releases based on this decent little split.
