Part Chimp - 'I Am Come' (Rock Action) Vs. Hey Colossus - 'II' (Jonson Family)
1/5
By: Tim Dellow
Stoner metal. Desert Rock.
In the UK that usually translates into Stoned Mancunians and Dessert Trolleys. A bunch of well-intentioned Kyuss fans that think swampy low frequency riffs and solar flare guitar solos are relevant ways to express the frustrations of being a Norwich tax administrator. Not so in the case of these two London-based metallites...
Part Chimp (**), self-acclaimed loudest band in Britain, release the follow-up to their Mogwai-endorsed debut 'Chart Pimp' this month. Not really one for the post-rock fraternity, but a deft attempt at making the inside of your earphones sound like they're inverting, filling your brain with a membrane-like balloon, before popping, forcing your entire head to recoil at the silence that inevitably follows. Then the Tinnitus.
Live, this band is unshakeable. So f**king loud that you're knocked about by bass frequencies that threaten to uncover the mythical 'brown noise' levels. This tends to compensate for the fact that you can't hear the singer's attempts at an American accent, or the fact that on record it actually reveals itself to be a rather weaker whimper.
Single 'War Machine' and the astounding 'Bring Back The Sound' work best, revealing a tune through their quieter production, and a refreshing respite from the dirge of the surrounding album. The closing drone 'Ashista no Bakahatsu' hints at the tiny little feedback fairies that dance around your ears after hearing Wolf Eyes, but ultimately are no match. A bold effort nonetheless.
A sound guy at 93 Feet East once told me that Hey Colossus (****) were LOUDER than even Part Chimp. The Chimp deny this, but the sound technician genuinely had to take a week off to recover and swears the bastards ruined his diaphragms (whatever that means) so I'm inclined to believe him. One thing that you should believe is, strong though the Chimp are live, on record Hey Colossus are infinitely better.
And a lot of that's down to the recording. On closing track 'Europa' they reach the same skull-bashing intensity of 'I Am Come', but largely a more subtle separation of the three frequency attack means that you can actually separate individual instrument noises into some of the best drone rock ever to emerge from this country. And, as the sublime 'Red Giant' testifies, the singing matches the ferocity of the music; something sorely lacking from the Chimp. Expansive feedback flows create rings around the planet; telekinetic frequencies that to an alien race would make Earth appear as Saturn. And SO F**KING HEAVY.
Artists in this article: Part Chimp
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