Written by: The Administrator
In the spirit of today's band in question, let's keep this intro short, shall we? Officers Down is a lean and mean two-track release from Revered and Reviled Above All Others, a historically lung-crushing doomviolence band. Over the past few years, I have personally found their intense and unique combination of suffocating brevity and overt fuck-the-police messaging to be quite alluring. If you're unfamiliar with (the henceforth abbreviated) RRAAO, the title of this double single should tell you all you need to know. If, however, you're approaching this review with a degree of familiarity, please note that their latest is a little less crushing and a little more incendiary than prior releases. Of course, that's all quite subjective--this is still an exceptionally sludgy experience. Both tracks feature a muscular tone that can only be compared to the sensation of snorkeling in concrete. The percussion is a little more industrially militant, giving "Buried Evidence" in particular an invigorating presence. One could most certainly throw down to this song. One could, perhaps, sling a variety of blunt and/or flammable objects, if one were so inclined. The vocals represent another evolution in the direction of immediacy. On "Bones of Anthropocene" in particular, they are more outwardly shouty and less like the all-consuming swallowed howls you could find dominating SWINEVOID or Toppling the Rotten Pillar. As a result, the lyrics are a tad easier to decipher. Somehow the fury is more palpable. Of the two tracks here, I do prefer the aforementioned "Buried Evidence" for its more urgent motion. "Bones of Anthropocene" is a little more plodding and lacks a true climactic moment--the track ends fairly unexpectedly. It does act as a nice foil to the kinetic approach of Side A. All told, Officers Down is a very fine addition to the RRAAO body of work, and serves as a compelling teaser for whatever comes next. Check it out here! Revered and Reviled Above All Others - Officers Down was released June 22nd, 2024
Revered and Reviled Above All Others can be found:
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This year, in an attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we're trying something new and novel around these parts. Namely, we're gonna actually publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. In that spirit, here's a mini-review of a ridiculously crushing single.
Written by: The Administrator
I'm a glutton for experiences that drown out the extremity of everyday life via, y'know, the gross application of additional extremity. As such, I tend to gravitate towards art that is overwhelming by design. Enter doomviolence pioneers Revered and Reviled Above All Others, my favorite outfit operating in the vibrant world of lung-collapsing antifascist music. They've got a new single out entitled "Mythocracy"--a short and poignant harbinger of the presumably forthcoming SWINEVOID. Listening to RRAAO is pretty much the antithesis of leisurely activity. Indeed, willingly submitting to the (increasingly trademark) AS + DB brand of powerviolence-by-way-of-sludge necessitates an appreciation of unapologetic discomfort. And that's the point. The potent blown-speaker combo of blaring bass, clanging cymbals, and titan-esque roars are built to rupture eardrums and induce migraines. Here, notably, the vocals have an almost mechanized or industrial quality, which only lends weight to the overwhelming aesthetic. There's a tangible pressure to the sonic onslaught--this latest track in particular makes me feel like I'm caught in the confines of a depressurizing submarine. Make no mistake: "Mythocracy" is nauseating in a very physical sense. I love it. RRAAO have perfected their formula: "Mythocracy" swiftly makes a point and doesn't stick around to witness the aftermath. Brevity works wonders in terms of impact. The track is over in very short order, but the sheer catharsis when the vocals kick in after a sludgy bludgeoning and hollow drums? Nothing short of excellent. This track leaves me immediately longing for more of the same. Intertwined with "Mythocracy" is a pre-order for the sickest long sleeve tee of 2022 (which I will certainly be adding to the cart as soon as the ol' band merch coffers are replenished.) |
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