Merzbow — Hodosan
The tracks here very much follow on in feeling and vibe of the first track off the Anicca album been all live drum based, but really Hodosan really turns the intensity way,way up. The first two tracks Peace Pigs Part 1 and 2 are full force breathless sonic attacks with Merzbow hammering into the drum kit like a man possessed, as dense & shifting noise matter smarts, burns, rips, violently soars and crashers around you. Over the two tracks total 34 minutes Merzbow rarely if ever slows down his bombardment of improvised and violent rock rhythms- truly there is no escape from the tracks tensed attacks. By track 3 The Joy of Soy he easers down a few gears & comes in with a consistent groovy drum pattern with memorable yet violent noise texturing throbs and bobs on top. The track real shakes, grooves and buzzers through you sort of loosing you after the two Peace pig tracks. The only thing that lets the track down is it feels about 5 minutes too long at the 19 minute mark- but it’s never the less an rewarding and foot tapping ‘n’ singeing track.
Hodosan at first slams you on the floor and batters you in an unforgiving manner and then just when you think you can't take no more gets all groovy on you. Certainly if you’ve been enjoyed his live percussive phase this is worth picking up. But if you’ve still to taste any of his recent percussive work start out with Anicca and then working your way up to this beast