Mouthguts — III
The project were formed back in 1995 & this as the title suggests is the bands 3rd release. On offer here are 13 tracks which fall between just under a minute mark to just over the five minutes mark with most of the tracks been relatively speedy & rapid, through it never really takes off to the speed of say your early Napalm Death or Naked City at their most foaming hardcore like. There’s certainly a more dark prog proton metal feel about the project which often brings to mind a more slap-dash take on King Crimson in their darker & riff chug form. There are a few slower to mid-pace tracks here too which mix smoky & sleazed sax honks, grim & wondering yet simplistic bass lines, discordant guitar lines & a general feeling of grimy urban sentiment/ vibe. All told there’s enough shift in the pace & tone to keep you interested through-out the 13 tracks on offer here.
The band are 'ok' musicians(through nowhere near Naked City or King Crimson level) and manager to pull the whole thing off with an enough rewarding moments & semi-head banged bleak urbane charm. Though there's nothing here that really makes them sound that fresh or different from any number of projects who've tried the jazz/ hardcore/ Speedy grim metallic’s thing in the past. Really if you dig this sort of cross over sound & are not expecting to be surprised or shaken by originality this is worth a shot.