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Inswarm: Surely death is no dream

19/05/10 || Habakuk

Never trust Lord K’s description for sent-in albums when you claim the review*. “Death ‘n’ Roll”? Yeah right. Not that I could place this into one definite genre , but one thing it is not: Death ‘n’ Roll. This two-piece from Brooklyn (plus two session members, if I interpret their myspace correctly) play a style that could be described as doomish post metal – however, if you now think Isis, Neurosis, Pelican or all these Relapse bands, think again.

“But those bands are post metal :(”

Yes, and they have in common with Inswarm that it sometimes gets all moody and calm, but Inswarm are much industrial-oriented and shove a a thick load of dirt onto their sound, which translates to rhythmic thumping, pulsating sounds, filter-processed, distorted vocals and much heavier, fuzz-ridden stringed instruments bought at the Doom Metal store. The sometimes fast-turning riffage sounds a bit like sludgy Mastodon (see for example the intro to “Black veil”), but Inswarm make sure the resulting groove is so strange that it doesn’t work as a headbangable rhythm. You know, my brain recognizes there is joint activity among the instruments, but my body refuses to react accordingly. They use confronting guitars and drums/samples in way that they work together, but don’t become one. And that’s my major beef with Inswarm, though it’s all well-played and I bet they can explain everything to you and it’s all meant to be that way or another.

However, if a groove only works on the brain level, to me it’s above all a weak groove. The potential is there, so use it. Just because you’re post-everything doesn’t mean you’re above working concepts like “groove”. You know, it doesn’t deteriorate your musical vision just because it actually grabs the listener by the throat from time to time, and that’s the one thing that’s lacking on “Surely death is no dream”. It’s a bit of a shame (partly so because I was expecting a Death ‘n’ Roll album, but also) because these guys do know their shit and can create some dark, disillusioned athmosphere. However, similar-sounding band Ufomammut manage to get it to work, too, and their album “Idolum” doesn’t even have a production that is as good.

Now if you think me and my groove rants are caveman-like misinterpretations, as music can go beyond the industry-fed concepts of likeability – go ahead and check this album out. Chances are you’ll like it, and if you’re into post rock like God is an astronaut or Godspeed you! Black Emperor, even better, as this is similar, just dirtier. I, for one, like those bands, and I can see Inswarm know what they’re doing, but still I can’t listen to this without end. The moody and doomy stuff yes, but the noise/sludge shit without backing by adequate (= groove-inducing) drumming? Nope, sorry. Now behold the score, (dis)agreeing.

*Note by The Lord: In other words, never trust the label’s description since that’s where it came from, fucko.

Information
Released: 2010
Label: Self released
Website: Inswarm MySpace
Band
Fade Kainer: vocals, programming, electronics
Joshua Lozano: guitars, vocals
Brett Z.: bass
Carl Eklof: drums

Tracklist
01. This moment
02. Tribulation
03. Transcend
04. Black veil
05. Under
06. Interlude
07. Drift
08. Interlude
09. Desperation for oblivion

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