Couch Slut
Contempt
(Gilead Media)
These NYC noise rockers rose to prominence a few years back with their My Life As A Woman album. Not only did the X-rated album cover bring about its fair share of attention, the music contained on that disc was graphic, dangerous and praise worthy. Here was a band that played a take no prisoners style of noise rock that was full of real pain and danger. This was no cartoony metal shtick, this was the real deal. The album cover might have lured you in, but you stayed for the music.
Well, it’s been three years on since their debut and now they return with new album Contempt for new label Gilead Media. Though, the cover is toned down just a little bit, the music is just as unhinged and dangerous as ever. This is bruising and cathartic, easily one of the best extreme metal albums you are likely to hear all year.
The album opens with the vicious “Funeral Dyke”, where guitarist Kevin Wunderlich’s noise damaged riffs, merge with vocalist Megan Osztrosits’ feral screams to drop you head first into their damaged musical world. From there, “Company Picnic With Dust Off” and “Penalty Scar” slam and pound with viciousness, while “Snake In The Grass” offers a little respite in the form of a pretty, noisy break toward its finish. “Summer Smiles” is a disturbing slice of noise rock and doom. “Folk Song” goes back on the attack, while closer “Won’t Come” offers quieter moments to provide a little gauze for musical batterings that proceed it.
Contempt is not for the faint of heart. But for those willing to give it a chance, it is quite an experience. It will fuck your shit up. They’re probably one of the most dangerous bands in captivity at the moment. This is scary music for a scary world. Scarily transgressive. I don’t think you’ll find many albums as real and intense this year.
