Alouth – “Resentment”
Alouth is not really a word.
But it is really a band. A really, great band at that.
It’s a South Brooklyn, New York hardcore, sludge, punk band.
And though their name may not be a real word, they play really, powerful music! Take your hard hitting metal, mix it with the minimalistic, directness and “no bullshit” of punk and add the passion and aggression of hardcore and that sums up the parts, that really makes up this band, that makes me really want to call them great.
And I don’t really know this band, never really saw them live. They just sent me their stuff and I really liked it. And I really think you will, too.
Now, let’s really, check it out:
“Lead The Way” leads off with three chords, played on a guitar! no less- that leads us onto a weirdly, swinging, waltzing rhythmic time of slashing guitars sounding like the insides of a meat grinder, that somehow fits into the old four by four beat. “You don’t understand. Lead the way, if that’s okay. Seize the day. Yeah, lead the way.” The music changes into a more straight, rock beat but also switches often, in perfect precision. The musicianship is impeccable and the words are sparse like a hardcore haiku. Though the music is so aptly played, none of the aggression or emotion or power lapses throughout the song. I don’t understand most of life but I feel it’s easy to understand, how great of a song this is.
Some revved up guitar chords, confidently starts up “Uncertainty,” but when the rhythm section kicks in, sounding like an a electric blender that’s become unhinged, this song is amped up into overdrive. This song is about anxiety, an ailment I’m sad to see, common in many of my young friends today. “Living with uncertainty is gonna be the death of me…Tell me I’ll be fine, tell me we’ll be free. Tell me we’ll be everything that we’re meant to be.” I would hope all young people would accept who they are and accept themselves, as they are more than worthy of any age group, I know. Some nice vocal harmonies, some more incredible playing and some great emotion that pours through, strong and warm. I say with certainty, that this is my favorite song on this release.
“Divine,” which made me think of the great Fear’s song “Disconnected,” starts out with a weird time signature and lots of naughty notes plowing in, in a abrasive, dissonant way. “Death to the wicked (Oh, no! I think they might mean me!)” “Take no pleasure in it.” (Like that’s supposed to make me feel better, after the fact, that all my entrails have been ripped out and fried and nailed upon a tree.) This song is uncompromising, unusual and some other adjective being with “u”. “All souls are mine, for I am divine.” Speak for yourself, Buddy!- but this song truly does, truly reigns supreme.
There’s “Never Enough” time to enjoy the simple things in life, like a sporty, game of crochet on a freshly, cut summer lawn. Or some refreshing, lemonade martinis indulged upon as the summer dusk descends upon the skyline, viewed from the swing seat upon your regal porch. Or simply, a simple song with four lines of lyrics that rocks, that headbangs, that sludges along to something that is positively, pure, powerful and perfect- like right here.
New York and Boston had the first punk scenes in America, in the world, really- both starting in the mid seventies. I know this for a fact as I was a young adult at the time. Sure, The Stooges and The Mc5 were brewing in Detroit long before this- but that’s called proto-punk, at least that’s what they tell me. L.A., Washington DC and, of course, the England scene was long after this- it’s all good, but the East Coast was where this punk noise was born.
And there’s always been vital stuff coming out of the New York and the Boston scenes, though, I will admit, it ebbs and flows.
Lately, I’ve been getting some great stuff from “up there.” No, not heaven- New York. But what a great city to visit, it’s somewhat like heaven to me. So much to offer and the people and their attitudes have always seemed great.
So Boston- you can hate those New York sport teams, as if that was ever a serious matter, but for me, whether the band is from New York or New Jersey, Connecticut or Maine, Boston or Providence, we’re all East Coast guys and we are all the best. And coincidently, that’s the area we cover.
And this band, Alouth, they cover a bit of ground as well- hardcore, metal, sludge, punk.
And they play some great styles of music really, really well.
And I’m not kidding- I’m not busting your balls!
(Slimedog)
