Issue 501

Trash Talk Eyes & Nines Shock Eyes & Nines by Trash Talk is their eighth release and boy does it pack a punch, angry punch. There's more anger here than an all in brawl on Hindley Street on a Friday night. If you're into your hyphenated "core" music like grind-core or hard-core or scream-core (okay I made that one up) then this is your ticket to ear bleed heaven. You'll also be happy to know that Joby J. Ford of The Bronx is behind the production. He keeps the production true to the style of music - raw - without it sounding like it was recorded in a basement. He has big shoes to fill considering production guru Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, Jawbreaker) put his genius touch on their self-titled 2008 album. Vultures opens up this death match and establishes the rawness that intrudes the entire album. It's a 56 second vocal and guitar fight - in one corner the awesome riffing from guitarist Garrett Stevenson and the other corner is vocalist Lee Spielman's and his almighty snarl. Although without a lyric sheet or interpreter, I doubt you'll understand a word he spits. But who cares there is so much power on this track and the remaining nine songs. Explode explodes (naturally) with the aggression of a thousand punks with its fast chord progression. Stevenson must go through at least 100 guitar picks and have blood pouring from his fingers. And because the track didn't have enough grunt Bronx vocalist Matt Caughthran - apparently he knows the producer - guest vocals adding more snarl to the puzzle. Like it didn't have enough already! But not all tracks are at breakneck speed, Rabbit Holes demonstrates a down-tempo side to the band. "Epic" could never be used for this album - it's only 18 minutes long! Do the math, 18 minutes divided by 10 tracks, that's not even 2 minutes a song. Okay I tell a small lie about the album not being "epic", the slow building Hash Wednesday clocks in at an EPIC 4:30mins! If you love your music fast and furious, check this out. But you may have to check into an anger management course after the first listen. You have been warned. Darren Bevington Leach