ALBUM REVIEW: Lower Automation – Lower Automation

If you’re looking for chaos, you’ve come to the right place. Chicago’s LOWER AUTOMATION mix math rock, noise rock, hardcore and more on their self-titled debut full-length. The results are utterly frenetic, with the record surely boasting enough ideas to fill double its 20-minute runtime. Following on from two similarly manic EPs, the trio write: “We wanted to make the weirdest album we could.” It’s safe to say mission accomplished in that regard, but at the same time this record isn’t entirely without precedent. Specifically, fans of the likes of THE JESUS LIZARD, DAUGHTERS and especially AT THE DRIVE-IN should find a lot to love here.

As you might expect, Lower Automation runs along a knife edge from start to finish. It’s often said about records like this, but it really feels as though everything could fall apart at any moment. It never quite does though, and instead the album brims with a consistently gripping and unbridled energy. There’s a real raw, live feel too, as though we are up close and personal with the three individuals that make up the band.

Musically, this record is almost antagonistic in its mania. Time and again, the trio seem to introduce ideas only to swiftly throw them away and forget about them entirely. The guitar riffs are angular and jagged, sporadically descending into bursts of feedback and noise. Beneath them, the bass and drums provide erratic and ever-changing rhythms, often in odd time signatures. There are even points where you might think each of the musicians has no interest at all in what the others are doing. Again, this could become a total mess, but somehow it doesn’t. If anything, these divergences only serve to heighten the impact of moments where the band do come together, such as at the end of ninth track Combover.

One constant through this album’s sheer chaos is the raving performance of vocalist Derek Allen. Throughout the record, he shows a similar versatility and charisma to that of AT THE DRIVE-IN‘s Cedric Bixler-Zavala. For the most part, he opts for a passionate, but not particularly harsh, punky shout. At points, he also provides more emotional cleans, including notably on album closer Ruiner. There are also several moments where he adopts a more despondent spoken style, such as on eighth track Vegan Neuroscientist. All in all, this makes for a varied and attention-grabbing performance that adds another layer to the band’s frantic sound.

It may be a lot to take in, but Lower Automation still has a few clear highlights. The album’s wild opener, 6 Degrees From Phrenology, is definitely one of them, tearing straight out the gate with an instant frenzied energy. So too is third track Paper Cuts. As well as firing on all their usual chaotic cylinders, this one sees the band throw some QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE-esque “oohs” into the mix for a limited but welcome dose of melody. Another stand-out is fifth track Old Sparky, a song which gives Allen a chance to show off some of his impressive guitar chops in particular. These grab the attention again on seventh track Dread, this time with a spindly opening lead that feels genuinely unsettling.

In all honesty, as much as it feels like LOWER AUTOMATION could keep going for longer, it’s a good idea that they call time when they do. It would be wrong to say this record is too long, but there’s no question it’s hard work. Of course, that was always the plan, but it does mean that this album requires a fair bit of perseverance. Then again, so does Relationship Of Command, so does Calculating Infinity, and while Lower Automation doesn’t quite hit the heights of those records, the fact that it shows a comparable level of ambition makes it well worth the 20 minutes of your time it asks for.

Rating: 8/10

Lower Automation is set for release on July 12th via Zegema Beach Records.

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