Labrat
Ruining It For Everyone
5.5
Imagine a super-intense version of Hatebreed, but replace their ultra-angry and powerful approach with one of pure psychosis. This is the definition of Labrat, a metal-core band from the mean streets of London, England. Although intensity is a very good quality to have in this, our beloved genre known as metal, Labrat kind of makes it wear thin after a while by trying just a little TOO hard. The one standout on "Ruining it For Everyone" is the drumming. All of the songs have a very fast pace to them, and as I mentioned before, ultra intensity. If there's one thing that keeps up with the intensity, it's the drumming, it's traveling at warp speed. The vocals are pretty crazy too, it switches from a growl to an absolutely painful scream. There's no way the singer goes to bed without drinking a whole bottle of Robitussin each night, that screaming must hurt the vocal chords. The production on this album is rather geared towards the upper-end, the lower end is kind of left out, making "Ruining it For Everyone" sound a bit tinny. Also, as I said before, they just try too hard. Take for example these track titles: "Diary of a Piss Drinker" and "Two Pigs Fucking". It's rather cliché, and it just cries out TRYING TOO HARD. I guess you have to try extra hard to be noticed in this day and age, but please, it's too much here. Labrat is the kind of band I'd like to see live, opening for Carnal Forge or Hatebreed or something. They sort of get you in the mood to see something better than what they are. While they do have their moments, they're too forgettable for me to spend too much time on them. For the fan of the super-intense, Labrat is pretty cool, but personally I think there's a point where it becomes trying too hard. It does have its moments, though. Wrathchild's Choice Cuts: Merrick Sympathizer - I like the distorted vox, plus the title reminds me of the movie "Shipwrecked"
