Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Negative Vibe Records
“Wasim” opens
the album with a bang, relentless angular riffing giving way to breathless
changes of pace, tempo and mood. “Flex” and “Undereater” further showcase this
mode of operation, the latter in possession of a killer lumbering sludge riff.
It also features liberal amounts of mangled, octave pedal-heavy guitar lines,
something that Grinding Fortune utilise to powerful effect. “Itch Relief” is a wild, untamed burst of
furious creative energy. All the disparate elements on display here mark
Grinding Fortune as a band with huge potential.
“Itch Relief” CD//DD track listing:
1. Wasim (02:11)
2. Flex (02:45)
3. Gorby (01:34)
4. D (00:33)
5. Judo (01:53)
6. Undereater (02:36)
7. U (00:36)
8. Sudoku (02:38)
9. Muds (02:30)
10. Flatula (01:40)
11. S (00:29)
12. Puzzlement (03:36)
13. T (01:21)
2. Flex (02:45)
3. Gorby (01:34)
4. D (00:33)
5. Judo (01:53)
6. Undereater (02:36)
7. U (00:36)
8. Sudoku (02:38)
9. Muds (02:30)
10. Flatula (01:40)
11. S (00:29)
12. Puzzlement (03:36)
13. T (01:21)
The Review:
Do you like
noise rock? Hardcore? Sludge? Punk? Ambient? Opera? If
the answer to most of these questions is yes then “Itch Relief” may be up your street. The new full length from Oslo
“Wasim” opens the album with a bang,
relentless angular riffing giving way to breathless changes of pace, tempo and
mood. “Flex” and “Undereater” further showcase this mode
of operation, the latter in possession of a killer lumbering sludge riff. It
also features liberal amounts of mangled, octave pedal-heavy guitar lines,
something that Grinding
Fortune utilise to powerful effect. They are at their best when they
sound like a computer game soundtrack, played at deafening volume, through a
broken amp.
“Judo” and “Sudoku” demonstrate the band’s ability to deliver furious,
off-kilter, punk rock with a twisted hardcore edge. A hybrid of Gallows
in their prime and the righteous noise of Refused, these tracks offer a stark contrast
to some of the other material here. Proceedings take another unexpected turn
with the downtempo metal of “Muds”.
All of it is equally good, it just doesn’t sit together too comfortably. The
one unifying factor throughout the album is Daniel Lynnebakke’s vocals. His
wild howl and sardonic lyrics provide a strong anchor throughout and help to unite
the chaos erupting all around.
“T” closes the album with an eerie, 90
second, ambient soundscape. This shows the band competently execute yet another
style but it feels like a strange way to end a record; more of an interlude
than epilogue. “Itch Relief” is a wild, untamed burst
of furious creative energy. All the disparate elements on display here mark Grinding
Fortune as a band with huge potential. If they can channel their
seemingly bottomless well of creativity and vitriol into a more focused album
next time around, we could be in for a treat
