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Coroners Milk Trip Hazzard :: Coroner's Milk [ 213 Records, 2002 ] In short, this band kicked my ass on the first listen and continues kicking my ass every time I slap in the album. Right away Coroners Milk overwhelms with intensity. But after a few listens, more subtle yet equally satisfying elements surface. It's these intricacies that set this album apart and make it worth having. Glenn Hite leads the assault with a barrage of agonized vocals -- screams balanced with melodic harmonies, moments of mutterings reminiscent of a serial killer, and yelling a la New York Hardcore. His shouted threats and hissed malicious intents come off more complex than lyrical gore or vulgarity. But the band doesn't completely break from the mold of violently intoned expletive phrases. Aside from dutifully pounding out the power, Ryan Davis and John Hadl pull off some bizarre and dissonant chords that may well have been inspired by string madness. The moment your banging head finds the bottom of the groove, an entrancing flow will pull it out swaying. Despite these dramatic changes, though, Davis and Hadl are steadfast and consistent, cutting corners well. Bassist John Williams furthers the cause for complicating an accessible whole by supporting the drums often in an off-time pattern, which oddly pulls the sound together even tighter. Drummer Clint Younce cranks out hyperactive fills and machinegun-style double bass that adds a stand-alone dynamic to an already thick mixture. Of the 6 tracks on Coroner's Milk, 'Dead President' stands out. It could be the opening track on the soundtrack for World War 3 or Armageddon for that matter. Anger rises right from the jump. Drums and bass swell as the guitars join the fray. With 'I don't give a fuck,' the floodgates are opened to an all-out war of cluster-bombing double kick and full throttle riffing. The song breaks down to a steady groove and then, before you even have a chance to settle down, it's cranked back up street brawl style. 'Innocence Lost' haunts with its soft melodious intro, but it's certainly not another whiney 'why me?' song typical of newer metal bands. Toggling from full-force and back to introspective acoustics, the song speaks of a hidden anger and a menacing agenda that are born within the tortured soul seeking retribution. "My suicide was beautiful / My innocence was lost." Even when Trip Hazzard keeps it simple as on 'Evol' (sic. that's 'love' backwards?) they hold your interest with more subtle nuances, like the building explosiveness of intermittent growling and whispers. Coroner's Milk can hardly be ignored, but I look forward to hearing this band's next phase of evolution. I hope Trip Hazzard will continue to be there to deliver us into Armageddon once again. By Ian Andrews RockKansas guest reviewer www.rockkansas.com Check out the artist's website: http://www.213records.com Track List: 1. Evol 2. Dead President 3. Innocence Lost 4. Mother Mary 5. Fanger 6. Stairwell Suggested CDs:
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