Search - Chris Dodge, Dave Witte :: East West Blast Test

Manic concept-grind of the best kind

organgrinderlv | Sin City, NV | 09/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How often do you hear great things about some new idea or approach to metal or grind or extreme music, only to hear it and be sorely dissapointed not only because it was no good and you wasted time and money finding it, but it didn't soud at all like what you thought? This is NOT THE CASE with East-West Blast Test. This album is nuts in the way I thought it would be, and this album is also good grindy heavy weird technicality.For those of you who do not know the idea (which is somewhat apparent in the name of the 'band'): here's the concept. A drummer on one coast of the nation wants to jam out some grind with a guitarist on the other coast. They are both dedicated and eager, but with thier other musical and non-musical commitments, as well as the 3000 miles seperating them, just can't seem to get together in the studio. So, instead of wait for years, the drummer thinks up some wacky technical grind, heavy on the blast beats and unexpected stops, and records it and sends the tapes to the guitarist. The guitarist hears them, makes up guitar lines to go along with the very challenging drum lines, and records over it. The result is musically fresh blasting grinding music from a very distinct and different standpoint. Neither of the main instuments had any idea what the other would do until the one was done. They then added some scant vocals (this is a mostly instumental album) as well as some sax. The result? This. The album is good and different and heavy, and as such I imagine it will draw many comparisons to Fantomas. It's not. There is a distinct lack of Mike Patton here, as well as no Dave Lombardo, or King Buzzo. East-West Blast Test is a strange grind concept album that works, is easy and also challenging to listen to, and heavy and fun to boot. I hope to hear more from this collaboration (is it a band?) or other immitators/reinventors soon. Get this if you like your extreme music a little off the beaten path in sound as well as philosophy."