Soilent Green
Pussysoul
[Relapse]


Garbage like this is the reason I never got into the New Orleans metal scene. Well, that, and the elitist jackoffs wouldn't let me wear my 'Projects in the Jungle' shirt to the House of Shock. Soilent Green used to be an incredible death/grind band, then Brian Patton joined Eyehategod and vocalist Glenn Rambo was replaced by Ben from Paralysis and we're stuck with 'Pussysoul.' Sounds like someone's put on the fancy pants...this band's simple, effective grindcore base has expanded into all kinds of geek whitey-jazz rhythms and digressions into HC, like a crack-addled Human Remains with bad, bad ADD. In recent years, this kind of pointless meandering has become something of a N'awlins staple, much like illiteracy and transvestites. Bands follow the leads of Eyehategod (why why why) and Soilent Green, drunkenly shifting in mid-song, like in this album's "Thirteen Days a Weak," which goes from a Casio-drum-machine-style blast beat to some mid paced drone with vocals that sound like Biohazard or something. Similar "sick" complexity can be heard throughout the album, which is really more of a collection of riffs than actual songs. One could make the analogy to Malmsteen, as Soilent Green are doing the same thing with riffs that he does with fret board masturbation: cramming as much in as possible with little regard for clarity. It all just makes me yawn in the same way that purposeful artists like Burzum, Skepticism, and Philip Glass don't. Sometimes this style of song writing can be a good thing--newer Mr. Bungle is fairly engaging and some Jap noise stuff is impressive--but without an understanding of dynamics and contrast, this kind of mindless building of parts comes across as the product of too much self-absorption. Remember, kids, just because you thought it up doesn't mean that it's important. Especially if you're Cajun. Pass on this one.


© 1999 craig