Labels: Hydra Head
Review by: Kunal Nandi
Here’s a band that, when given the chance to cover a Nirvana song, chose to do “Milk It”. I think that’s a pretty strong indicator as to where these lumberjacks are coming from.
Harkonen employ a deceptive lack of technical wizardry that is like a blast of fresh air nowadays, and peel off a series of super-heavy, fucking noisy and repetitive five/four-time riffs like their lives depend on it. It sounds tough without them sounding like they’re playing with their penises (as a fan from The Blood Brothers once stated), and is chunderously heavy without coming across as dumb. It’s good to see singer Ben Verellen’s affinity for silly song titles, much like his brother Dave employed when he was in Botch. I blame the parents.
It can get a bit monotonous at times, with a few songs blending into one another rather too seamlessly thanks to the relentless, bashing nature of the music, but it’s rare to come across something that is so neck-breaking due to sheer heaviness and attitude rather than speed. Think an atonal Melvins meeting early Unsane, you know – proper Amphetamine Reptile stuff. Beautifully horrific.
“Where’s the fire!!!?!!” he hollers at one point (I think). Here, mate. Here.