 | Tracklist:
1. Qed
2. Salt Mine
3. Corners
4. Dataclast
5. Blight of Element
6. Talon of Dominion
7. Unrequited Blood
8. Wartorn
9. Sum and Substance
10. Riven
11. Reversing Denial
12. Lithographs
13. Intravenous
14. Moment to Failure
15. In Absence
| Ranking: #37 for 1997 | |
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On 30 Lists
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| Summary: Prepare to be Assucked... |
6 of 6 thought this review was well written
Assuck were a grindcore band hailing from North America. Between 1987 and 1998 they produced various splits and 7 inches as well as two 12-inch LPS; Anti-Capital/Blindspot and Misery Index. Misery Index is easily the band’s best work and one of the strongest works within the grindcore genre.
Despite only being fifteen minutes long, the fourteen tracks on Misery Index perfectly showcases Assuck’s sound; snaky power chord and tremolo riffs are combined with rapid fire blast beat drums and double bass patterns. There are the occasional mid-paced, doom-y, even somewhat catchy riffs which help to bring a little variety to the album. An example of which is the mid section of the second track, "Salt Mine”, which sees the band slow to a half-paced, breakdown-esque section before running back up through the gears to full speed. Another high point of Assuck’s sound is that the bass is audible and the mixing of the bass with drums provides a solid low-end backing for the guitars and vocals to work over, making it an integral part of the assault on the listener’s ears (particularly noticeable when listened to through headphones).
However, it is clear that the strongest aspect of Misery Index, and Assuck's sound itself, is in the band’s articulate lyrical content and vocal delivery. With the majority of tracks being around 40 seconds to a minute long, the lyrics usually only consist of a few lines, but within those lines, Assuck make it clear that they were a very discontented band with politically charged, socially aware and nearly always misanthropic lyrics.
“Unrequited Blood” shows the band at their bleakest: “When will we concede that there is an absolute significance deficit concept of the human being. The rape is indigenous to our existence and that already we can never and will never be able to pay the debt of blood upon this land. Burn alive all humankind. Burn it at the stake. Burn it as retribution for its blatant defilement of itself. Burn it for its never ending void of purpose. Burn it on principle alone.”
“Talon Of Dominion” also shines light onto the band’s discontent for modern society: “Let this stand as a monument to my abandonment and submission to the clutches of consumption. A penance of control for the iniquity of breath. It is irrefutable that we become apostle to mechanism. It is design that orchestrates the perpetuity of tyranny and doctrine of drudgery and toil. Talon of dominion, skewer of empire, as certain as the blackening of another tomorrow". Fun stuff.
The delivery of the vocals in a fairly low guttural register perfectly complements the music and content, further adding to the band’s overall bleak sound and suffocating atmosphere of the album.
One of the possible negative aspects of Misery Index for some listeners will be the the song lengths. As with most grind the tracks rarely surpass one and a half minutes. This may pose a problem for some listeners but should not be the sole reason for neglecting to listen to the album as the tracks on Misery Index flow into each other so well that it is almost like listening to one 15 minute track.
Ultimately, grindcore is an acquired taste and some may find it too abrasive or have problems with the track lengths or repetitive song writing, but those who are willing to look past these points will find one of the more accessible albums within the genre and also discover that, with Misery Index, Assuck have produced one of the most consistent and influential albums within the genre that contains little to no flaws and a captivating way to spend fifteen minutes of their time.
Recommended Tracks:
Salt Mine
Corners
Talon Of Dominion
Unrequited Blood
A Monument To Failure
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
First review in a while, so it's a quickie. Will hopefully be pumping out a few more in the next month or so.
Point out any mistakes, give criticism etc.
Digging: Everything Went Black - Cycles of Light Digging: Everything Went Black - Cycles of Light | | |
great review, can't see any mistakes except the code error in the first paragraph
really want to get this
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Yeah got that one, cheers.
Going to try and change the artwork image because the current one is really low res and looks terrible.
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ahh bummer, sorry for immediately bumping your review down man. Good stuff though, pos
Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Np man, at least it was bumped down by you rather than some newbie or troll review.
Was tempted to give this a 4.5 to match my personal rating, but i'm not sure if the review backs it up enough to warrant giving it a 4.5.
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the review would back up a 4.5 too imo. Also, going to get this, but not sure if I'll give it a go right away since I'm in a massive industrial mood atm.
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One of the possible negative aspects of Misery Index for some listeners will be the the song lengths. As with most grind the tracks rarely surpass one and a half minutes. This may pose a problem for some listeners but should not be the sole reason for neglecting to listen to the album as the tracks on Misery Index flow into each other so well that it is almost like listening to one 15 minute track.
While this is a fair enough point, I think I would remove this seeing as most people going into this will have an idea of what the genre is all about. It just sounds redundant. Great review otherwise. I can't believe this hasn't been reviewed yet!
Digging: Vaura - Selenelion Digging: Vaura - Selenelion
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album is pure chaos, rules. good review bro, thanks.
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Album rules. Good review man. Suprised this hasn't been done yet.
Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace
| | | Album Rating: 4
been meaning to get into this band for a while, gonna get this now.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Awsome
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
While this is a fair enough point, I think I would remove this seeing as most people going into this will have an idea of what the genre is all about. It just sounds redundant. Great review otherwise. I can't believe this hasn't been reviewed yet!
I definitely get your point, obviously those who have heard grind before will be aware of the song lengths but I put it in there for those who are newer to grind and are looking to check out the best albums from the genre.
Thanks for comments/etc
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Damn good review.
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Awesome band name. Good review too. Grind is a genre I should try get into more. I only really have some Pig Destroyer and Blood Duster.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Get this and Discordance Axis - The The Inalienable Dreamless and you're off to an amazing start.
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This wasn't reviewed?!? Album is classic... good review
| | | Album Rating: 4
yeah this rules, i guess i need to get into more grindcore
| | | Album Rating: 4
so good
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yeah this rules, i guess i need to get into more grindcore aside from all the essentials (Terrorizer, Repulsion, Napalm Death etc) I started with Brutal Truth, Nasum and Pig Destroyer
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
knew you'd like this I('m)rad
I was pretty surprised that this hadnt been reviewed as well. Although I have a feeling that there may have been an Eliminator review of it but it got deleted, could be wrong though.
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