Manic Street Preachers |
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HARM’ S WAY Other World
( Metal Blade)
Chicago‘ s hardcore thugs, Harm’ s Way, have managed to skillfully morph elements of punk, metal, industrial, and hardcore elements into one lethal musical assault throughout their almost two decades of existence. The band‘ s 2023 critically praised fifth full-length album, Common Suffering, propelled the band into the spotlight and saw their trajectory rise through numerous headlining
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tours. On the two-track EP Other World, Harm’ s Way sounds as mean and as violent as ever. The title track is a jarring onslaught of fuzzy, Godflesh-inspired industrialized chaos that immediately scars the listener’ s ears and continues to pummel for almost three minutes with vicious, throat-ripping screams from James Pligge, slamming rhythmic grooves from bassist Casey Soyk and drummer Christopher Mills, and sledgehammer guitar riffs and dissonant melodies performed by Bo Lueders and Nick Gauthier. The track was initially recorded during the Common Suffering sessions, in which the band revisited and remixed it for this release. Second track,“ V. Y. B. S. S.”, is a reimagined version of the track“ Wanderer” from the band‘ s Common Suffering album, accompanied by some creative production techniques from musician and producer King Yosef. The rebooted track is not as metallic or guitar-oriented as the original, due to the various synth samples and a different vocal delivery style. However, it’ s an adventurous endeavor, and the band gives the track a more ominous and mechanical vibe in the vein of Demanufactureera Fear Factory. Although Other World is a |
short, two-song EP, the album delivers a compact and gritty punch to the face in just under seven minutes. Fans of Harm’ s Way can consider this a precursor to its next full-length album, which hopefully won’ t take as long as the last one did.
– Kelley Simms 8
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MANIC STREET PREACHERS Critical Thinking
( Columbia)
Manic Street Preachers became prominent in the United Kingdom in the early 90s as a thinking man’ s Guns N ' Roses. Political and poetic lyrics crashed against an arena-ready rock sound, full of loud guitars, larger-than-
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