Exosus/Clancy 6--split 7"
McCarthyism 2004
Regardless of the inspiration point, as long as the sentiment behind it is pure, music which relies on power will always get over with listeners for that fact. This Exosus/Clancy 6 split 7" is a good example of that princple. Regardless of whether the scale tips more on the side of metal or hardcore, rest assured you are going to have your face torn off by this listen.
Exosus is first up, with their pair of tunes "My Life In The Diamond Trade" and "Chasing The Dragon." Unlike most of what McCarthyism puts out, there isn't a hint of any D.C. styled angularity to these cuts. Also, while definitely coming from the school of hardcore, Exosus has much more in common with Reign In Blood-era Slayer than anything else. "My Life In The Diamond Trade" is the most sprawling of the two songs, featuring an ominous tempo slow down at the midpoint where a few death grunts get squeezed in. "Chasing The Dragon" wraps the Exosus half of this split in a blinding fury, keeping things straight-up feeling in spite of slight riff variations.
On Clancy 6's three tracks, "Pulse Control Is Process," "Shallow Graves," and "Neverendings Have Me Shifted," the subtle Fugazi-isms you were expecting do in fact rear their heads. In comparison to the cuts from their awesome split with Vincent Price's Orphan Powered Death Machine, these efforts feel a great deal more powerful and accomplished. That's saying a lot. Sick-as-hell blastbeats propel "Pulse Control Is Process," as well as "Shallow Graves" which boasts a nice shift to midtempo, putting off a pretty evil vibe in the process. "Neverendings Have Me Shifted" proves the quirkiest of the batch. It's also the most complex in terms of arrangement, with very obvious morphs in time signature throughout. Ending in a noisy locked groove, this one's a fitting finisher.
As much as the hardcore community will certainly be clamouring for this platter, it seems just as worthy a pick up for metalheads. The power of Exosus is overwhelming and undeniable, while Clancy 6 continue to improve. If these styles are anywhere within your realm of interest, this 7" would be a wise score. An all-around killer.
Score this 7" directly from MCCARTHYISM |
