Institute
Distort Yourself

THE REVIEW

Perhaps not everyone knows that in the early 2000s, Gavin Rossdale's Bush no longer existed. After four albums and before the 2011 reunion, their leader created this temporary group with the help of former members from bands like Helmet, A Perfect Circle, and Rival Schools. However, the most significant contribution came from the imposing presence of Page Hamilton, leader of Helmet, whose influence is evident as the album's producer. The compact and compressed guitar sounds are typical of his historic band, giving the record a muscular modernity. This makes the songs more powerful than Bush had ever managed before, but at times they become almost indistinguishable in their pleasant mediocrity.

Several tracks from the first side manage to stand out, particularly when the production strikes the right balance with the effectiveness of the melodic lines (see the opener "Bullet Proof Skin" and "Wasteland," not coincidentally the album's two singles). When this balance is not achieved (see the entire second part), tracks with the potential for emotional impact drown in technical precision, which is formally impeccable but cold and tending towards monotony. For the writer, the imperfect grunge bravado of Bush's early days was preferable, or even the cerebral darkness of works like "Razorblade Suitcase," which was heavily criticized at the time. The near absence of depressing ballads (perhaps only "Ambulances"?) may be a merit for those who no longer wanted them, but a fault for those who were captivated by "Glycerine," "Cold Contagious," or "Mouth." In conclusion, it's an album that doesn't scream masterpiece but is worth listening to, where Bush fans will find part of what they were used to.