ALBUM REVIEW: Memory Theater – Escuela Grind
Despite the 2020s being a festering pile of misery thus far, the quality of extreme music has been on the ascension. We have seen so many young upstart acts navigating the treacherous seas of COVID and other setbacks and managing to set the world alight despite the obstacles laid before them. One such act is Massachusetts’ own grindcore marauders ESCUELA GRIND. Since exploding onto the scene with their debut album Indoctrination the band have been melting faces and treading stages the world over and now present their ferocious sophomore effort Memory Theater.
The runtime for the release is something of an anomaly for the grindcore genre, with the nine tracks coming in at just over 21 minutes in total. It’s only seven minutes shorter than SLAYER’s classic Reign In Blood album, which may not seem a lot, but compared to many of their counterparts this is a grand opus.
From the hardcore-infused driving opening combo of Endowed With Windows and My Heart, My Hands the band set about doing what they do best. They deliver chaotic, visceral displays of impressive musicianship paired with seamless shifts in both tempo and intensity that not only keeps things feeling fresh, but also containing that ingredient that is so vital in this type of music: a feeling of danger.
The aggression that has been piled into these nine songs is nothing short of alarming. The emotive vocals being laid down by vocalist Katerina Economou sound like she is working her vocal chords to their very limit as she barks over the top Strange Creature Of Nothingness like a prime Barney Greenway. The jarring guitar tone and constantly shifting rhythmic patterns are captured perfectly by Kurt Ballou behind the mixing desk in what seems to be a band/producer marriage made in heaven.
A highlight of the album comes in the form of Forced Collective Introspection. It’s a schizophrenic melee of punishing riffs and blasting drums, accompanied by the most demonic vocals on the entire album. If someone asks you what the sound of contemporary grindcore is in the year 2022, show them this song and watch their jaw hit the deck. This is filth, this is savagery, and it is bliss.
The album closer and namesake for the release shows no signs of slowing down as the band race for the finish line. Instead, we are treated to a scathing example of just how exciting ESCUELA GRIND can be. This track will give no quarter to those unfortunate enough to be in the wake of the pits, instead providing the perfect soundtrack for audience members to unleash hell upon one another. The frantic riffs play off perfectly against the hellacious drums to ensure that the listener cannot be comfortable for even a second.
The sign of a great grind band is being able to distinguish between chaotic, crafted song-writing and directionless noise and that is where ESCUELA GRIND really excel with Memory Theater. For a band still in its relevant infancy to have this kind of creative know-how is truly impressive, perfectly balancing power and aggression with fluidity and intelligence. This a band that not only deserves your undivided attention but demands it.
Rating: 8/10
Memory Theater is set for release on September 30th via MNRK Heavy.
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