This is the 10th anniversary reissue of the band’s debut effort from 2004, and the first thing you notice compared to later releases is how goddam heavy they were.
Opening track, Swandive, is Pantera on acid. The vocals, riff, and groove are brutal – epic stuff! Ostensibly Impregnable is more like their future selves in places, with the beautiful soundscape melodies separating the brutality. Young Man is off at breakneck speed as the aural assault continues, and yet the beauty is just below the surface. Lots of heavy palm muted aggression starts Transgression (possibly the most brutal track yet), with a really cool saxophone interlude. Another Pantera groove greets us in The Barrier, and this track is so fast it ends before it starts. The weird soundscape of Effluent leads into the album’s showpiece and title track, Polars. Fat monster riffage mixed with melody and great soundscapes make this the best on the album.
This is territory the band would make their own on Dualism, which is and absolute beast of a record. Unfortunately the band are no more as they have called it a day.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
