Review Summary: For those in need of a quickie......
German pop-grind outfit Japanische Kampfhorspiele finally threw in the towel after an eleven year run. While slightly disappointing, very few bands can respectfully show a flawless track record from start to finish and Japanische nearly achieved just that….. At least for those that were fortunate enough to follow in their strange but inviting musical progression from the early demo releases to their career finale ‘Kaputte Nackte Affen’. While their underground presence in the German metal scene brought a small following; not to mention their numerous appearances in the Maryland Death Fests (the only occasion that really brought them to the states), Japanische was a gem that completely slipped under the radar.
‘Luxusvernichtung’ (The Absence of Luxury) marked the band’s 2009 EP release featuring 54 lightning fast tracks of unconventional pop grind clocking in around the nineteen minute mark. Although sporadic in its execution, JAKA pulls it off effortlessly with the quirky highs and lows in the vocal department and the memorable guitar play. It was later indicated by the band that this album was entirely comprised of moments that were left off previous releases that sat oddly out of place with the rest of their material. After hearing this one can understand completely. This is the only instance where one can find quick yet memorable grind-core songs ranging from six seconds to the minute and a half mark. This is inconceivable with the track durations along with the German lyrics, but again, the off-kilter structure of this album adds to the memorability alone and while the package remains oddly incomplete, it still beckons for spins well after its initial purchase.
To also point out, the band opted for a rather unusual, yet welcome finale on the album with the entire song listing pressed together on one nineteen minute song excluding the vocal arrangements. Let those riffs shine in their lonesome.
While the pressing of this release was limited, there are still a few of these puppies floating about. Take it for what it is; this album is what Insect Warfare intended with Noise Grind Power Death, except with the inclusion of ample direction and an obvious regard for fan appreciation for the hidden tidbits of metal tomfoolery. Swing and enjoy…
3.3/5
