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Rotten Sound: Cursed

06/05/11 || The Duff

I’ve had bad luck when it comes to silver-coloured albums; Fear Factory’s “Transgression”, and er… Rotten Sound have been top-tier material when it comes to the grind world, and I’ve been following them closely since their classic effort “Exit” as I consider them to be the only band able to hold the throne left via the very unfortunate folding of Nasum; although I kept track of their E.P. “Consume to Contaminate” despite its brevity, I felt the band’s latest E.P., “Napalm”, too short on new material to be worth pursuing (including a Napalm Death cover or several of all things hmmmmm?). So it was to await the sequel to the masterful “Cycles” that I twitched impatiently, and finally with very little warning on the matter, we’re here with “Cursed”.

Reviews are already surfacing and seem to hold this disc in very high regard, saying it to be better than the band’s 2008 effort; I was skeptical at first, “Cycles” being magnificent but a step down from “Exit”, but after a week or so having difficulty listening to anything else, I’m one to concur quite determinedly. The band seems to have evolved quite nicely while sticking to the core of their Entombed/crust/groove roots, all the while having released something honed to an absolutely expert craft. The tracks have more space to breathe, the insanity used in measured doses but not enough to warrant criticism of watering down; instead, the band chooses to side with the ugly, balancing the entire record very comfortably while tying to the lyrical concept of man’s inward predisposition towards death, destruction and decay.

Keijo has focused on the number of aspects he believes to be central to our demise as a species (egotism, vanity, coercion, vengeance, exploitation and fear), altogether quite a generic topic but approached in a sufficiently subjective manner so as to make quite the endearing and fitting concept for a grind effort. I can’t help but nod in agreement at the bile he holds for a rather pitiful social structure despite themes becoming repetitive on a track by track basis – what the fuck do I care how many times you can spit out hate, the guy sounds so fucking inspired; society’s misery ejected with honest piss and vinegar. Lyrics to tracks such as “Superior” and “Declare” amongst so many others are delivered in true grind fashion, catchy and vitriolic all at the same time.

I was at first disappointed with the production, it’s less refined than on “Cycles”, but the dirtier edge with touches of the “Cycles” tidiness makes us reminisce of the band’s ugliest early days while tying us to, according to the band, their true sound as found on “Murderworks” and beyond. Basically spit-shined Entombed, and I hold no qualms with it; truly, the notes are clear enough during the razor-speed, hard-hitting enough during the Entombed groove, and disgusting enough during the crust, so probably even better than the polished job of “Cycles”. The bass comes out rumbling beautifully, and Kai Hahto, as much as we miss you, it’s purely on principle; Sami Latva has filled your shoes remarkably despite being more straightforward – the drums on “Cursed” slay with head-smacking precision.

Difficult though it is to diversify within the grind scene, Rotten Sound have done so in fine fashion, releasing another relevant effort (mixing Nasum with Mumakil busy? Who woulda thunkje?), another masterpiece and another album of the year that gracefully mixes both old and new.

Information
Released: 2011
Label: Relapse Records
Website: Rotten Sound MySpace
Band
Keijo Niinimaa: vocals
Mika Aalto: guitars
Kristian Toivainen: bass
Sami Latva: drums

Tracklist
01. Alone
02. Superior
03. Self
04. Choose
05. Hollow
06. Ritual
07. Green
08. Machinery
09. Power
10. Plan
11. Declare
12. Addict
13. Exploit
14. Terrified
15. Scared
16. Doomed

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