BLEEDER’S DIGEST: QUICKIE REVIEWS OF ARSON ANTHEM AND ENDER

Arson Anthem, “Insecurity Notoriety”
I tried, man. Believe me. Given its membership, Arson Anthem should be one of my favorite bands. Yet the combined forces of Eyehategod’s Mike Williams, Hank III, Colin Yeo and Phil Anselmo can’t seem to salvage this intended tribute to crusty hardcore punk that plays more like a D-list D-beat disaster. Discharge and their Swedish ilk put out some awesome lo-fi, nasty records in their day, yet Insecurity Notoriety is a one-trick pony that has seen better days, paling in comparison to contemporary shitkickers like Disfear. By American hardcore standards, this is pretty dreadful. Specifically, this is the worst thing Anselmo has done — save for Christ Inversion. Arson Anthem should acknowledge the mediocrity of this vanity project and leave hardcore to the hardcore.

(1.5 out of 5 horns)

Ender, “This Is Revenge”
At long fucking last, a deathcore band comes along that sounds more like The Acacia Strain than Whitechapel! New Jersey’s Ender carry the weight of metal and hardcore on their young, rippling shoulders on their Eulogy Recordings debut. Guttural vocals and eye-gouging breakdowns are what these fellows do best, as demonstrated on brutal cuts like “Sculpting Fragments” and the Pantera-esque title track. Emmure frontman Frankie Palmeri makes a brief but effective cameo on “Panty Sniffer Does Porn”, showing support for his fellow Tri-Staters. Only eight tracks long, This Is Revenge feels more like a teaser than a proper debut, yet the talent behind these tunes somewhat makes up for that.

(3 out of 5 horns)

-GS