Rotten Records (2009)

You know that feeling you got when you first discovered Opeth, Mastodon or Tool? That overwhelming freshness of the NEW in not just metal, but MUSIC as a whole? Do you know why these bands cause such a stir, such a devotion, such admiration, such cult following? I think it's because they absolutely do not care whether they are metal or not, as long as they create what they want to instead of what is expected of them.

An example to the contrary, would be Dark Tranquillity and Killswitch Engage (oh, he mentioned KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on a metal site, to the stake with this traitor!). Both bands are, in my opinion admirably if predictably, driven by their fans' expectations. Both bands, once unique and fresh, are becoming a little stale... Don't get me wrong, DT is and will remain one of my favorite bands, but I sometimes wish, listening to "Fiction", that they ventured out a bit again, like on "Heaven" or its predecessor "Projector". Even "Character" was a very experimental album. I like experiments, even if, or rather especially, if they venture outside of the comfort zone.

What makes Opeth, Mastodon and Tool so unique, then, is their ability to seamlessly fuse different sounds, genres and even musical styles in general into compositions, which should not even be called songs, per se. But it works, and the same can be said about Between the Buried and Me. You absolutely cannot possibly predict what you will get on the next album, but you know, whatever it is, you will be floored.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the future giants of progressive/eclectic rock/metal, if you will, a band worthy of taking place along the Opeths, Mastodons and Tools of the world - Gollum. Supposedly NOT named after the Lord of the Rings' Smeagley, but, instead, rendered from Yiddish word "goylem" for "a shapeless mass", the name accurately describes Gollem's music. If you like metal or rock, chances are you will hear the parts you like the most on The Core. And all of it is doused with copious sauce of Pink Floyd, pre -and including, Dark Side of the Moon era psychedelia.

But what makes Gollem geniuses they are, is that they don't SOUND like Slayer, Megadeth, Mastodon, Opeth, Tool or Pink Floyd, but merely make you THINK of those and many other bands. In 1994, Machine Head, with its debut "Burn My Eyes" was able to accomplish this same effect. Some stuff reminded you of Metallica, Pantera or Slayer, but when you played it against the respective bands' records you were shocked to find no plagiarism or even derivation has taken place. For, too, Stroehmer brothers (Gollum guitarists) have a sound of their own.

EVERY song on "The Core" is ENTIRELY different, drawing from various influences. It can be described, at first, at its base as a very filthy thrash/punk with abrasive vocals. But then another unique quality hits you: it's not only what kind of riffs they play but how those riffs sound. A riff would be played at a certain level of "dirty" and suddenly the guitars cut you with razor - sharp precision (the title track). Remember Corrosion of Conformity's 13 Track on "Wiseblood" with that very deep, almost detuned sound, as if they did not care? Well, that's kinda what I'm talking about here.

Furthermore, the band plays with such ease, skill and ingenuity, free from trends or requirements, that you swear this must be a seasoned, 10 albumer, but "The Core" is merely a sequel to their debut! Only two albums folks, and the music you hear is already throwing me on my knees, because these guys have the 'tude that's genuinely lacking from metal these days, the kind you heard on your "Vulgar Display of Power", "Killing Is My Business" or "Show No Mercy” records", a feeling of unadulterated artistic freedom of expression with no expectations or strings attached, that's right, the big "Fuck you, we don't give a fuck motherfucker, and we know we're fucking good, anyway" syndrome.

But with such jaw-dropping musicianship, how can you disagree? I have been listening to the new Gollum for two weeks now and I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer! I guess, if I could offer a single point of reference for you, I would still have to mention two albums simultaneously: "Blood Mountain" and "Crack the Skye" by you know who. Listening to these you have a feeling like these guys have a vision, fans be damned. No, I'm not talking about the lack of respect for the fans, but about not hanging onto their every word. Rightly said Alistair Crawley: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law". So true, in life and in music. As for the sound, again, think "Prove You Wrong", didn't Prong do whatever the hell they wanted on that one? And yet the music was still cool, nevertheless.

But I still owe you, perhaps a short description of your possible encounter with this masterpiece: It starts slowly with an eerie intro and then, yes, definitely "Countdown to Extinction" in attitude and execution, ergo, without the melodisism. Before you wrap your mind around it, they hit you with Opeth, Prong, Mastodon and even Slayer before moving on. And so on and so forth.

There is a guest appearance by Randall D. Blythe from the (once, since Wrath is such crap) mighty Lamb of God, but that is, rather one of the least exciting tracks. It sounds too much like Blythe's day job. Be that as it may, it's a minor gripe of mine, in no way taking away from the pleasure of listening to this gem of an album.

The CD is best digested as a whole, with headphones on, as you pay attention to every sound. It's only a shame, that the main man behind this project, Hunter Holland, passed away of heart failure shortly before the release. It makes me worry a bit about Gollum's future endeavors, but we'll see.

So far so brilliant. Get it and listen on your knees, minions! The biggest surprise of the year and my personal number one for 2009 so far, along the new Mastodon, of course.

www.gollumband.com 
www.myspace.com/gollum 
www.rottenrecords.com
www.myspace.com/rottenrecords

Composed by Marcin "Dethster4life" Lewandowski