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Having not heard any previous releases from this strange band, I have no point of comparison for their perculiar, original style. This is an odd style of metal which the band themselves have dubbed 'Schizo', and upon listening it's easy to hear why. The first song, "Methods Of Survival", bursts into the speakers with some heavy drumming, rhythmic chuggy riffage, and the confident, unique voice of female vocalist Monika. The song is a powerful one, with a myriad of subtle effects, strong riffs and chug, and very catchy vocal lines. It contains some truly infectious riffs, with real groove, a quality that stands up for most of the album. The album gets weirder. The next song "Flesh Fly" has some truly demented riffs and vocals, with the added appearance of some much weaker male vocals. The song has a circus gone wrong feel to it, with Monika hitting some crazy high range notes and the guitars spinning out some carnival-inspired melodies. "Heartquake" is a mid-paced song that takes it quieter than the previous songs, relying on Monika's inventive vocals, that sound like Mike Patton in Bungle mode but with greater range. Of note are her high screeches, which are both interesting and disturbing. Overall, her vocal performance is not only one of the main draws, but possible draw backs, of not only the album but the band itself. Her singing is all over this album and always in the forefront, and her voice covers a wide range of sounds. It goes from intimate, to operatic, to schizophrenic, all in the same song, and could be off-putting to the casual listener. I however commend her for her willingness to experiment with her voice, something I feel I've not seen enough of with female vocalists in general. It is because of this however, that the band and album are an acquired taste, but I'm sure that you will be able to find just enough demented guitar melodies, rhythmic chug, inventive vocal lines and atmospheric shifts to satiate your musical desires. Heh, cheesy. Just be prepared for a weird ride, the earlier songs are the easiest to swallow, and it gets stranger as it progresses. As memorable as it is experimental, recommended whole-heartedly.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Methods Of Survival |
| 2. Flesh Fly |
| 3. Heartquake |
| 4. Burning Bridges |
| 5. This Ujil |
| 6. Tentacles |
| 7. Secondhand |
| 8. Traumas - Fact Sense |
: 51.00
| Buy other Atrox albums |
