Review: Concrete Lung – 'Fumes'

CONCRETE LUNG
'Fumes'
ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES

It's been a while since the last slice of uncompromisingly brutal industrial-doom from Concrete Lung bludgeoned us back in 2014, but as with life (supposedly) good things come to those who wait. 'Fumes' continues to see the band evolve their sound through their own mix of industrial, metal and grindcore infused with urban alienation, paranoia and all-out violence.

Like Godflesh fighting Nailbomb in tanks in the ruins of Stalingrad, 'Fumes' relentlessly crushes everything in its path. The slow sludgy riffs, the artillery batter drums and the corrosive industrial undercurrent combine into a challenging but rhythmically driven whole that propels the seven tracks with ease. It's dark, despondent and uncompromising, but it also shows a band at the top of their game innovating while looking back to their earlier recordings and drawing from the best of both.

Tracks like 'The Harbinger', 'Spinning In The Grave', 'When The Blind Man Sees You', 'A Thousand Years', and 'Fumes' show the best of this with their doomy lead riffs giving headbang appeal and even imbibing the compositions with shout-a-long potential that balances the inherent dissonance with a twisted nihilistic appeal. Whereas the cacophonous noise soundscapes 'Dissension I' and 'Dissension II' sound like Merzbow torturing Al Jourgenson with his own synths in some Hostel or Saw like scenario that reminds you that Concrete Lung are built for uneasy listening.

In terms of production, Concrete Lung remain entirely listenable despite the noise, grind and low-fi elements that permeate each track. There is an inherent rhythmic groove in most tracks that is always prominent in the mix despite whatever additional assaults they unleash. As with the previous album its a great blend of a professional and polished mix that doesn't dull their edges, but rather sharpens them.

'Fumes' feels like Concrete Lung's most self-assured album too date. It builds on the solid foundation of 'Tolerance & Dependency' and adds in a sense of live performance where rhythm and groove sit comfortably with crazy industrial noise. It's a beast of an album and one that shows the band as the true powerhouse it is.

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Review: Concrete Lung – 'Tolerance & Dependency'

CONCRETE LUNG
'Tolerance & Dependency'
ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES

Despite the duo of Ed Oxime and William Riever imposing major geographical hurdles for themselves since their respective relocations, the all out assault of Concrete Lung continues unfettered. The band's punishing slow blend of industrial, metal and grindcore continues to roll for like a tank crushing everything beneath it with their new long-player 'Tolerance & Dependency'.

Anyone looking for dance beats, catchy melodies and sing-a-long choruses had best look elsewhere. Concrete Lung once again bring an intense formula that picks up where their 2013 EP 'Subtract Nerve' left off. The sludgy riffs of Godflesh, the intensity of Nailbomb, and the acidic industrial kick of Ministry come together for a heavy half hour assault.

'Engine Vein' kicks the album off with a nice doomy riff before descending into a fist-in-the-air show of heaviness that could knock walls down. The heavy assault continues as 'Die Dreaming' follows on with a more pronounced groove set against some serious death metal vocals courtesy of Oxime. 'Chemical Muzzle' brings things back toward the industrial with some nice noisy elements added to the bass-led groove.

This move toward the industrial aspect of the band's sound is continued into the sample-laden 'Self-Shriek' (Self Murder)' which is perhaps the most balanced song in terms of the band's most prominent elements and as such makes a fine centrepiece to the album. 'Plastic Mind' follows nicely with its ominous bell tolling before breaking out the erratic and crazy beats over the slow and dark riffs to great effect. 'Closed Mouth' then rounds things off with another slow and nasty metal bludgeoning that segues into a rather tranquil and somewhat folky outro.

Just when you think you have Concrete Lung's number, they throw you something you weren't expecting. 'Tolerance & Dependency' is by far their most polished sounding effort with a great production and mixing job throughout that brings out the nastiness of their sound far more than any lo-fi production could.

There is a hell of a lot going on here. 'Tolerance & Dependency' is a dark, heavy and challenging album. But it is one that really shows how great Oxime and Riever are as a unit. The album feels fresh exciting, and should take them to the next level.  

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Review: Concrete Lung – 'Subtract Nerve'

CONCRETE LUNG 

'Subtract Nerve' 

ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES 

The duo of Ed Oxime and William Riever have, as Concrete Lung, come together to create one of the most interesting industrial / metal crossover acts for quite a while. Blending crushing, sludgey doom metal and abrasive industrial, the band channels acts like Swans, Godflesh and Ministry into a slow and methodical sensory assault executed with the intensity of Napalm Death and Nailbomb.

On their fourth release, 'Subtract Nerve', they certainly pull no punches. Each track has an ultra-heavy presence that is full of deep and distorted electronics that compliment the dirty guitar and half-shouted, half-growled vocals. It builds nicely on the nihilistic and apocalyptic visions of their full-length album 'Versions Of Hell'.

The opening track 'User' is a textbook case of being thrown in at the deep end. The song slowly emerging from a static haze into a bludgeoning eight minute ordeal that grips the listener and won't let go. The following tracks, 'Self – Shriek (Intensity)', 'Rot And Seethe' and 'Waste' each maintain the heaviness of the opener, but the emphasis on a chugging pace and chant-a-long vocals make them a little more accessible and catchy... in an Ebola virus kind of way.

The re-recorded version of 'Flux' shows just how far the band are developing in terms of quality as well. The original simply doesn't stand up to this with its fuller sound and more forceful vocal style. Even the hidden track is an enjoyable exercise in nightmarish dissonance.

Even the production is very strong here. With an act like this the temptation would be to go low-fi for a lot of people, which more often than not just sounds sloppy. Concrete Lung on the other-hand have created something that, although packed with distortion and harshness, is very well mixed so that all these elements don't simply become a homogeneous noise.

'Subtract Nerve' is a very impressive release from an act that hits you hard on every level. They have taken a big step forward from their full-length album 'Versions Of Hell' and are reaching their full potential. It's going to be very interesting to see what the next LP brings.

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