Review Summary: Full of Hell, from start to finish, deliver the most relentless and ear splitting release of 2013.
After releasing the much acclaimed Roots of Earth and a line of successful split EPs with the likes of Code Orange Kids and Calm the Fire, the long-awaited sophomore release by the experimental juggernauts is finally here. Dynamic and innovative in every sense, Full of Hell successfully combine everything heavy from Black Metal to Punk Rock in order to create a masterpiece coated in despair, anguish, and a deep disposition for anything and everything within view. Most importantly, they show they are not victims of the “their first release was better” bug as they show with Rudiments that they are capable of shattering all pre-biases that they are unable to put out a release that tops their first effort.
While some people have no tolerance for introductory noise, most Full of Hell fans will see the erratic drumming that is drowned in feedback and droning electronics as a pleasant, inner thigh kissing tease for the impending aural assault that is to come in Rudiments. ‘Vessels Deserted’ taps into the created anticipation with an onslaught of neck breaking drum beats and erratic riffing, only to then manifest itself into a tune that fights between freneticism and soundscapes of loathing. Different songs on this album display the variety of talents of the band as a whole. ‘Indigence and Guilt’ makes Weekend Nachos vocalist John Caution feel just at home with a strong Powerviolence influenced track. ‘Embrace’ is a foray into long and drawn out musings done over a combination of feedback and a deep, dirty bass line. The song segues straight into ‘The Lord Is My Light’ whose opening dissonance decides to dive straight into another dirty bass line over a continuous drum pattern. While the middle portion of the album provides a slow grinding interlude astray from the chaos of the opening few tracks, Full of Hell then dive right back into the destruction with ‘Bone Coral and Brine’ and the title track which pumps out a bastardized version of Hardcore Punk with a deep undertone of Black and Grind.
Vocalist Dylan Walker is by far one of the most important facets of Full of Hell as he displays an unprecedented amount of vocal talent and range on Rudiments. This is best displayed by the appropriately named 'Coven of The Larynx' where he displays high shrieks that are so intense that it will probably result in him needing throat surgery in the next few years. This ear splitting shriek makes sporadic appearances throughout the release and isn't overused to the point of monotony. Its strategic peppering throughout the songlist makes the album an even more enthralling listen. The drum production on this album is crisp and audible as Dave Bland makes the release his medium to display his versatility be it in the form of blast beats or what has been described as blackened d-beat. The dominance of the drums on this release in tandem of the landscapes that are created with feedback and electronics is a sound that is undeniably unique and enthralling. These two talents provide by far the most important contributions to Rudiments and gives the string section a diving board to jump off of in order to display their own talent and diversity, and there is plenty of that to go around. ‘Throbbing Lung Fiber’ is where the guitar and bass shine especially as they are able to keep up with the gauntlet of freneticism that is thrown down by Walker and Bland by creating a soundscape that keeps the attention of the listener over its minute long assault.
The overall cohesion of the band is displayed in the closing track. What begins with dissonance and evil must end with dissonance and evil. As the track closes in a mess of distorted electronics, listeners will conclude that Full of Hell is a lethal concoction of destructive and beautiful. The album displays the Full of Hell's relentless intent to create the darkest album possibly imaginable. The band itself described Rudiments as a representative of “The different aspects of the human pulse as a whole that cause pain and disrupt the balance of natural life. That pain being both mental and physical anguish.” Rudiments is the embodiment of that quote and it clearly takes the cake as being one of the best albums released thus far in 2013.
