Scientist - "10100II00101" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 05/08/2016

Label: Hell Comes Home

Storming opener “The Singularity” distils the key elements of this record into five and a half minutes. Chittering harmonics give way to the sledgehammer impact of furious, frantic riffing moving into anthemic sludge and finishing with an epic post-metal flourish. Imagine the best bits of American Heritage, Clutch and ISIS delivered with the seismic impact of Mastodon’s “Remission”.  “1010II0101” is a pioneering piece of research at the cutting edge of riff technology that demands your attention.

“10100II00101” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The Singularity

2). Siege/Capture/Control

3). The Lighthouse

4). Baptistina

5). Luminal

6). Gravity Well

7). LIMB

8). Physcian Heal Thyself

9). Orbital

10). Bloodless, Breathless

11). 1010II0101

The Review:

There’s a certain weight of expectation that goes along with naming your band “Scientist”. Mental images of bespectacled boffins performing compositions of time-warping complexity spring to mind. Chicago quartet Scientist definitely delivers mind-bending riffcraft on “10100II00101” but this album is far from a sterile laboratory creation.

Storming opener “The Singularity” distils the key elements of this record into five and a half minutes. Chittering harmonics give way to the sledgehammer impact of furious, frantic riffing moving into anthemic sludge and finishing with an epic post-metal flourish. Imagine the best bits of American Heritage, Clutch and ISIS delivered with the seismic impact of Mastodon’s “Remission”.

Over the subsequent 55 minutes, Scientist embarks on a sprawling yet compelling journey through a bewildering number of styles. “Siege/Capture/Control” begins in crushing doom territory like Scott Kelly fronting Crowbar before launching into another pummelling onslaught.  “Orbital” is a searing instrumental math-metal assault, piling riff upon riff with increasing intensity. Scientist always keep things interesting dynamically, offering some light and shade during the progressive voyage of “Gravity Well” and the ambient interlude of “Limb”. 

They also throw in a couple of curveballs with an almost commercial edge. “The Lighthouse” sounds like an armour-plated Deftones complete with an unexpected melodic chorus and “Physician Heal Thyself” blends almost jazzy interludes with their trademark crunch in a catchy way reminiscent of recent Dillinger Escape Plan. Both of these tracks work well in the context of the album and add more range to their wide sonic spectrum.

Scientist have managed to birth a real beast here, a record with true depth that will keep you coming back to discover more with every listen. “10100II00101” is a pioneering piece of research at the cutting edge of riff technology that demands your attention.

“10100II00101” is available here

Band info: bandcamp | facebook

American Heritage - Prolapse (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 24/11/2014

Label: Solar Flare Records

‘Prolapse’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1. Eastward Cast the Entrails
2. Anxious Bedwetter
3. Obliviocrity
4. Constant and Consuming Fear of Death and Dying
5. Mask Of Lies
6. Blackbird
7. Hürtin’ Crüe [Descendents Cover]
8. Thirsty and Miserable [Black Flag Cover]
9. Bulletproof Cupid [Girls Against Boys Cover]

American Heritage are:

Adam Norden | Bass, Vocals, Guitars

Erik Bocek | Bass

Mike Duffy | Drums

Scott A. Shellhamer | Guitars

Review:

American Heritage come at you with their sixth full length, 'Prolapse', like a bulldozer with a broken brake pedal. It's big, it's unstoppable, and it destroys. And much like the aforementioned bulldozer, frankly it doesn't do much good and its component parts would probably be better used elsewhere.

With that curious name, ostensibly nationalistic enough to concern more sensitive members of the left, American Heritage aren't a bad band. Hell, they do their thing pretty well. However, that thing struggles for relevance in a post-atmo-sludge, post-John-Baizley-coverart scene. At around 33 minutes stretching over nine songs (three of which are covers); the album feels a little brief and unconcerned with making the best of itself.

With those Mastodon-esque riffs resting upon drums that flit and double upon themselves more than drive, 'Prolapse' certainly does meat and potatoes prog-sludge well. Their music belongs to that brighter, tighter side of sludge, one that cares to raise its gaze from the grime and putridity of Iron Monkey brand misery and look you in the eye with confidence and clear direction. Through this, the album keeps its feet firmly on the ground and never strays into Intronaut levels of atmo-sludge wanderings that stand at the other end of the spectrum.

The vocals, like the music, seem to borrow liberally from the Baroness and Mastodon textbook. Yet to compare them to either of these bands is not entirely fair, with American Heritage displaying an aversion to bullshit and frills that even 'Remission'-era Mastodon or 'Blue Album' by Baroness could not claim to boast. Honestly though, it was the tasteful bullshit and frills that made 'Remission' and the 'Blue Album' my favourites in their respective discographies, with 'Prolapse' coming across as flat from missing a little of this.

I can't help but feel all this has been done before, 2008 has been and gone. In a landscape littered with bands of all genres pushing boundaries or in some cases flat out ignoring them, 'Prolapse' raises concerns over how a band like American Heritage will stay relevant or release music worth getting excited over. Of course there is an audience for this, people will listen to it, people will enjoy it. But then again some people still like Anvil.'

Words by: Jake Mazlum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

Bandcamp | Facebook | Official