Absolute brilliant, bananas split featuring two very different bands. Unarm have the whole sand-blasted crasher thing going, the three tracks here seeming little more than a wash of Disclosian noise and frantic bass runs, all held together by madcap, all-over-the-place drumming. In case that wasn’t crazy enough the vocals sound like they’re being played at 45 while the music rumbles at 33, but rather than coming off as grating or wacky the whole concoction works superbly.
Different entirely but similarly odd are Moonscape, who occupy an odd zone that’s part crust, part metal and part peace punk, winding up in a place that’s just plain eh?! Snakey metal riffs and chugging beats crash about the place while guttural vocals reign supreme, and while reference points might include Amebix, Subhumans (UK) and G.I.S.M. no single comparison entirely does them justice. While Unarm’s side might provide a purer adrenalin shot it’s the two Moonscape tracks that I keep coming back to … they’re weird, awkward and thoroughly out-there, and I’d really like to hear a full album’s worth.