Sometimes certain releases seem to work together in the same environment. I got both the CRAW disc and TIME IN MALTA on the same day, and whlie each band is highly different from the other, the technical precision and foot-stomping power of both bands creates a duly impressive tandem. Anyway, “Bodies For Strontium 90″ mimics its title in sound – strong, thorough, and undoubtably scientific in execution. The unique drumming signatures and spiraling guitars create a vacuum of intensity, forging a neat mix between old CAVE IN, SNAPCASE, and TOOL. I admit, this release made me scratch my head a bit as the first track is over 7 minutes long, and the lyrics are about as divergent, brutal, and scattershot as one could imagine (yep…it’s a Hydrahead release). Vocally, there’s a great deal of singing on here, though it’s more of that curt word variety, spoken both softly and viciously, but not hapazardly as many other labelmates. By the third or fourth track, CRAW has settled into a consistent groove, and each successive song rattles off with fury, but not out of line. While never fully developing its metal boundaries, CRAW convienently straddle that line between progressive hardcore and just all out rock, and I credit the production qualities on “Bodies for Strontium 90″ for holding this amalgamation together as I can visually imagine this engine of sorts bursting apart at the seams.

Hydrahead Records

www.hydrahead.com