Pailhead
Trait

THE REVIEW

The first time I saw something about Pailhead, I was reading a music magazine, and since back then I didn't have access to the universal knowledge of the internet, I could only rely on what was written. I read about these Pailhead, consisting of members from Minor Threat and Ministry, among others, and that this "Trait" EP released by Earache in 1988 is the complete creation of this band. I don't remember the rest of the article well, only that the album was rated positively, but I remember that it piqued my curiosity also because I knew the bands some of the members came from, so I thought I should delve deeper, but then it just ended there. A long time later, I happened to come across the album cover, and a light bulb went on, I had to make it mine, and what can I say, the wait was worth it. This EP of 6 tracks goes from bursts of post hardcore-punk to dark industrial sounds that remind me of early Killing Joke, Big Black, and why not, certain tracks by Godflesh, and already here we're in good hands. The songs flow quickly, with dirty and sharp guitar, the pounding and relentless rhythm section marking industrial beats, all combined with the unmistakable voice of Ian MacKaye, which in his genre is a guarantee, but when paired with certain sounds, you never know what might come out. Still, the doubt is immediately swept away because the Minor Threat singer offers a performance of hardcore outbursts with moments of apparent calm and fits wonderfully with the ensemble. Let's say that knowing the genre where Ministry comes from, musically, the record is what you might expect, but the cohesion with the other hardcore origin part gives a reason for being and personality to the group. That said, the flaw of this EP (obviously?!) with only 6 pieces is that it's quickly listened to, and in the end, I wonder why this fantastic project was not continued because personally, I consider it among the best releases of a certain industrial-contaminated post punk mentioned above. Well, at least I managed to (re)discover them and thus enjoy this small great gem.

"The world is confused, murder and weather is our only news, I WILL REFUSE!"