Hammerhead
Into the Vortex

For those unfamiliar, the Testamartello are among the noble noise artists from Minneapolis in the early nineties; not that they came from there, but no less a noisy record label wanted them in their catalog, and not even myself as who-knows-who would have abstained from the ranks of the good strap it on; it is well known that the mentioned debut saved amphetamine reptile with the cash boost it needed, so I have one more reason to thank Mr. Hamilton, without the due predecessors perhaps this into the vortex wouldn't have been released at all; it's worth mentioning I have many similar reasons, and turning the mirrored question around, if the helmet after the righteous album had softened without sticking a broom up their... they might have sounded just like the very first Testamartello; anyway, theirs is another story, this second album is similar to the first etereal killer, rough music, rhythmic, chaotic, methodical, melodic, and full of friction; they have recently reformed into a old and happy format, and it's nice that they come back to mind with a reunion of disinterest, after all, it can only do good to the hotheads who want to go wild a little.

Specifically the year is nineteen ninety-four and fresh from re-release in this two thousand eighteen, like every DOPE release from amphetamine reptile everything sounds frayed as it should, the production makes the eardrums vibrate properly and thus certain turmoils, well worked, become entirely musical; above all, nothing to say to a band that starts an album like this, guitar with blades, similar cut to the unsane, agile percussion and psychotic singing; listening to it is a bit like racing in a car without sparing the handbrake around the corners, the drums gallop with pleasure and the guitar is fat, all in a continuous sliding of tasty riffs like stop-and-go grated parmesan - when it's not enough, I'd say it's even fitting to melt the crust; brest, empty angel, some tracks remind that the eighties are just around the corner and skag heaven flows virulently in the veins of the tracks.

The piece close to my heart is double negative, a schizophrenic melodrama of explosive emotions, the transitions make the tracks die continuously, it's like a domino in elevation under the wind of the gutted lyrics; in short, they rev up and grind, a true sonic stone-throwing that doesn't envy too much unsane, cherubs, helmet, cows, and company; what came out before and after is no less and here the title gets nothing wrong, highly recommended for those who favor claustrophobic compressed distortions - there's a curse on you blood brother, you're next.

LP