Perth Express
Discography
7.7
Color me impressed! The aptly-titled Discography from Germans Perth Express, courtesy of Teenage Disco Bloodbath Records, is a 23-track collection that includes the band’s self-titled 12”, 10”, Split 7” with Hellström, and demo. In truth, while one could classify this as hardcore/punk and be done with it, there are glints of post-hardcore, Neur-Isis-core, and general post-metal, which are evident in the cornucopia of ostensible influences detectable. Thus, if you enjoy Baroness, Botch, Coalesce, Converge, Neurosis, Isis, Mastodon, The Ocean, and numerous others, but are searching for a one-stop shop of sorts, Discography is a safe investment.
Again, though there’s a definite hardcore/punk vibe coursing throughout opener “Less Than a Second,” followers of Mastodon may experience déjà vu concerning the pogo stick rhythms, scratchy vocals, and drum fills galore. Yes, even from the start Perth Express convincingly display their natural abilities. Also in tune with the Georgian quartet is “1001,” “Ace of Spades,” and “After Many a Summer Dies the Swan” despite the intermittent mob shouts found in two of the three. A welcome change of pace arrives in the form of “Heidepark Soltau,” which waves the Neur-Isis flag proudly from sludgy, burgeoning beginning to enrapturing, groove-oriented middle, with a cleaner determined bridge, to fittingly climactic end. “Neverending Einbahnstrasse” blends the two aforementioned approaches, but is compelling nonetheless – especially the tense instrumental crescendo from 1:54 to the song’s sudden demise at 4:23. In addition, the duel vocals (mid-range growls and screams) in “Perpetuum Mobile” and elsewhere add flavor to a dish that is quite tasty regardless. The observant will notice that the demo tracks “Perpetuum Mobile,” “Liebeskontrolle,” “Kollektivdisziplin,” and “Richtungsfolge, Folgerichtig” are delivered twice, but it’s interesting to hear the slick, updated versions that appeared on PE’s subsequent releases.
It ain’t easy unearthing compilations that deserve a hearty recommendation, but Discography is one I’m comfortable endorsing. While Perth Express are virtually unknown, or that seems to be the case at least, their music has enough panache, vigor, and zest to pique interest without resorting to directly cloning any of the outfits mentioned above, even if the similarities are fairly overt. Alongside Tides’s Resurface and From Silence EP, this is the best TDB has to offer.
