Wasteform
Ignorance Through Sovereignty
7.3
Seeing that Skinless couldn’t fill my vacancy for slamming NYDM w/ their ridiculous clean vocal bullshit, was it possible that Wasteform could do the job? Yes. Pure NYDM is what we have here in all its pit riff glory. However, it doesn’t complete the job 100%. I’ve heard bass production like this before and I can’t say that I like it. Instead of a thundering force under the earth, the bass is a clickity, watery sounding intruder that is over-pronounced and just plain too audible. It isn’t exactly the broad-shouldered force that is typically required to hold up guitar riffs this heavy. Otherwise, Wasteform’s sound comes through at a decent level, but it isn’t exactly ideal for this type of metal. It almost sounds pre-mastered.
As far as their songwriting goes, Wasteform does an excellent job sticking to the NYDM formula, as they don’t try to throw in anything that doesn’t belong. Many will say this style has done everything there is to do and I agree to an extent, especially in the breakdown end of the spectrum. Breakdowns are starting to get old, mainly because they are 2 or 3 palm muted power chords at slow tempo. Sure you can juggle the shit around a little bit but I think it’s time to get more creative w/ this kind of thing because it’s just starting to sound primitive and lose its potency. Metalcore, hardcore, & super-underground guttural death are premium examples of the exhaustion of the breakdown. What was once something I greatly looked forward to is now something I tend to skip if there’s nothing unique about it, which seems to be most of the time now.
I’ll wreckommend this to NYDM goons who worship Suffocation as well as Pyrexia. Some might not dig the production too much. I still think the guitarwerk is stellar for this style, as it is crunchy, fast and aggressive, w/ very little melody of any kind! It doesn’t focus completely on power chords and breakdowns like hardcore music does. Wasteform are purists of their sound, and have put alot of effort and energy into this record. A thicker, more professional production and a slight tightening of their work will make a fan out of me in the future.
