Corrupted without Hevi was an uncomfortable proposition, and their first release without the dapper frontman is somewhat inconclusive as far as statements of intent go. One side offers a ragged, rolling wall of near-abstract riffsound that’s accompanied by low, throaty rasps and punctuated by moments of creeping dissonance and the occasional sorrowful shriek. The flipside offers even less by way of resolution, presenting us with a low thrum through which those forlorn shrieks struggle to make themselves heard. The mood and vibe of the band’s more ambient moments (see also: Chew’s recent Begottened album) remain secure, and while it’d be unfairand untrue to say this is a stone-cold disappointment, both sides would definitely benefit from being dragged out further to see exactly what the future might have in store.
