xdementiaPost subject: Fire in the Head – Meditate Mutilate CD
Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:37 pmFire in the Head – Meditate Mutilate CD: http://www.collectivexxiii.com/fireinthehead/
Eibon Records: http://www.eibonrecords.com/
Overall Rating: B
Composition: B+
Sounds: B
Production Quality: B-
Concept: B-
Packaging: C
Fire in the Head is a project that has taken the scene by storm within the last couple years and rightfully so due to his general quality of releases and his prolific output. This is the latest full-length delivered by Eibon Records that boasts a “celebrity” appearance by Nicholas Blinko, some punk dude from a band “Rudimentary Peni” of whom I have never heard. This is a solid release and a fitting follow-up to his recent wall of noise opus Come Closer, Cut Deeper.
For those of you not familiar with F/I/T/H he delivers harsh heavy industrial music ranging from a power electronics influence (vocals are usually quite common here) to all out throbbing walls of harsh noise. There are several quieter tracks on Meditate Mutilate then on the average Fire in the Head release, which is a nice change to hear since his last few were true heavy noise assaults.
The album opens with “Darkest Before Dawn” a decent ambient noise track with some very subtle vocals. The real shot to the head comes in with the second track “True Believer” which is the best track on the album that features intense waves of modulating distortion and synths constantly squirming and writhing around like trying to wrestle a fucking alligator covered in razorblades. Add some sick distorted vocals to the mix and what we have here is some seriously good shit, F/I/T/H at his best.
I don’t feel like the quieter tracks are really pulled off as well as the noisier stuff mainly because the production feels a little lacking on some of them. I’d like to hear some brighter tones in the ambience, it seems like a lot of the more spacious sounds are just muffled white noise or something. This isn’t too much of an issue though because F/I/T/H usually throws in a good few layers of harsher elements for your consumption.
There are a few standout tracks in here and a few that just pass by without being noticed much. The goods ones are “Complete the Obsession,” a track that kicks off with a low reverberating rhythm before going into some excellent high-frequency feedback wails combined with taunting vocals. “Within and Without” is another one that starts with some distorted hollow synth sounds and lead into layers of crusty distortion and slowed down samples. Glassy screeches keep the track from lulling too far into the mish-mash bass mode so this is another track that really grabs me.
The “guest vocal” track doesn’t really turn out to be anything special. The vocal’s vaguely remind me of Genesis Porridge (what little I’ve heard from him), they’re kind of silly and over dramatic, like a guy trying to recite a fairy tale to children and make it sound scary.
The other track that can’t help but be noticed is the wrap-up title track “Meditate Mutilate” which combines very mellow and peaceful classical music loops with crunchy pushing distortion, a strange combination but it makes sense in the context and is definitely an appropriate closing track.
If you are into power electronics and harsh noise you should definitely check out some material from F/I/T/H. My favorite still remains Be My Enemy but his catalogue is constantly expanding and now is as good as any to get into this solid and sometimes exceptional artist.
Related Articles: Blood Ties Document 2006 Article , Fire in The Head/Hum of the Druid – s/t Review , Icon Review , Fire in the Head – You Too Shall Burn Review , Come Closer, Cut Deeper Review , The Remedy Has Become the Affliction Review , Irukandji – Resuscihate [i-xii] Review , V/A – Drone Season Vol. 3: Music For Mountains , Irukandji – Pulp Electronics I-XI CS , Sky Burial - IV: Of Dharma and Drowning Review
Back to top
