ALBUM REVIEW: SO MUCH. too much. – Destrage

Italian metal magicians DESTRAGE have slingshotted themselves into the spotlight in recent years with their fearless levels of ingenuity. The follow-up to 2019’s The Chosen One entitled SO MUCH. too much. is available now for your listening pleasure via Century Media Records/3DOT Recordings and it is not for the faint of heart.

A Commercial Break That Lasts Forever is one hell of a way to make an immediate impression, launching the record into glitchy, frantic chaos. The sheer unpredictability puts you on the back foot from the first second with absolutely no idea where the insanity will lead next. Everything Sucks And I Think I’m A Big Part Of It is equally as erratic and jarring. From ridiculous hooks to monstrous blast beats with crazy sweeping thrown in, this is what the term ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ was created for.

Venice Has Sunk continues the twisting, turning maze of layers as mind-bending bass lines leave their stamp on this outing of tranquility meets brutality. Italian Boi introduces a splash of vibrancy and colour to proceedings, but fear not it is still considerably barmy. Changing form more times than Loki, the flamboyant fretwork and expertly executed drum sequences will have you reeling.

Private Party showcases a chipper and whimsical demeanour sprinkled with a threat of violence. It is little surprise that the creative mastermind Devin Townsend had a hand in the construction of this piece. Sometimes I Forget What I Was About To provides a brief but haunting interlude that allows for an element of calm within this frenetic whirlwind. Don’t get too complacent however as An Imposter comes charging in like a hurtling train. The punchy tempo and wild transitions are as mesmeric as they are perplexing. Is It Still Today? shows a glimmer of vulnerability as poignant emotion flows throughout. There are still plenty of opportunities for bursts of energy to squeeze their way in.

Vasoline returns to the snappy pacing, possessing a particular level of accessibility thanks to its swathes of melody. Rimashi on the other hand is a complete curveball, displaying some rather dark and unnerving acoustic tones that leave you wide open for the fury of Unisex Unibrow. Despite the questionable title this track is crammed with surges of rapid riffing and almost feels like the musical equivalent of a speed run. The maniacal breakdown segment is a surefire way to get a crowd pumped up. Everything Sucks Less feels inspired by the smooth charm of THE BEATLES, gracefully gliding through layered vocal pieces. After the considerably turbulent voyage, this is a fitting, uplifting way to wind things down.

SO MUCH. too much. could be just that for some, but for listeners who encourage musicians to push creative boundaries to their limits and then some, DESTRAGE are undoubtedly at the forefront. There are various instances where it may be difficult to fathom what on earth is going on but the level of inventiveness is astonishing. You will be hard-pushed to find anything quite like this and that fact alone deserves to be applauded.

Rating: 9/10

SO MUCH. too much. is out now via Century Media Records/3DOT Recordings.

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