Spinal Wrench 2: The Splits

I hope to re-rip the two Spine Wrench EPs I posted a while back, and rip two additional ones in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, this post concerns the two split releases the band did: their first outing, and their last. In case you don't already know, SW were a sludgy metal band with industrial leanings, but are best known as the band MID (Rob Middleton) formed after the demise of Deviated Instinct (you also may know Rob from his art which graced many famous Napalm Death albums, and from his current work in the band Bait). The first split of the day, with Def. Master, was Spine Wrench's last release. The one SW track is easily my favorite from the band's discography. Through the cold, industrial atmosphere tears some anguished vocals and gut-wrenching, string-bending guitar eeriness. Based on this last remnant, I really wish the band had kept going...

Japan's Def. Master are a whole other trip. Their hyper-kinetic, electro-industrial adrenaline shot is both seductive and nerve-wracking (in too high a dose). The format follows a similar pattern to their "Fear Of God" 7", both of which consist of one booty-shaker and one metallic head-rush. As can be expected, the tracks are layered with all manner of electronic bells and whistles to keep your warped neurons from their inevitable atrophy; yes, our species is "evolving" to where ADHD is becoming one of our essential qualities-- Def. Master has kept this in mind during the composition process. Get DM's split with the almighty Discordance Axis here and a couple more DM goodies here.



For no extra charge, you can also download the Sin/Spine Wrench (or Spinewrench if you prefer) CD below. SW showcase their usual awesome, throbbing, grooving metal. This also happens to be the only release with Charlie (ex-Deviated Instinct) on drums before he left and and was replaced by his mechanical counterpart. The songs are pretty good, and, for me at least, blow away Sin. Maybe I'm just not accustomed to the flat, anti-dynamic, industrial influenced metal those guys produced, but I get a little antsy listening to Sin. I don't know, maybe you'll like them more, but I usually skip to the SW tracks.


Both splits

Def. Master "The Fear of God" 7"

A qualifying statement may be in order here: I'm not usually into this sort of music, but... the title track of Def. Master's "The Fear of God" 7" (H:G Fact Records, 1993) is just so damned powerful. Said track is a hyper-paranoid mindfuck of stimulus-overloaded, industrial cyber-metal. Unlike some other Def. Master tracks, the various vocal samples and electronic noises are used as mere embellishments to the metal guitar's dominant position, all of which are goaded along by the manic pace of the drum track. Dizzying, and fucking intense! The b-side, "Beset," marches at a more moderate, lulling pace, and almost eliminates the role of the guitar completely. Perhaps it's needless to say, but this track falls short of the mark, although fans of Godflesh might find themselves bobbing their heads a bit. In addition to this ep, Def. Master released split eps with Discordance Axis and Spine Wrench.

Take a listen