This would be pretty much the same as any other amorphous improvised cacophony were it not for the intense volume and skull-crushing bass that dominates the chaotic racket that spreads across the four tracks of ‘Cheval Ouvert’ (is that an open horse, or a horse performing ballet? The front cover, which depicts an illustration of a creature exploding amidst a mass of entrails and riddled with hypodermic syringes suggests the former… and sonically, that would fit). It’s a nasty mess of guts alright. Guitars squall like ‘Metal Machine Music’ on a cocktail of acid and speed, while drums pound at earth-shattering volume. ‘II’ is a frenzy of noise, frenetic drums hold a rapid tempo for the whole of its 11-minute duration with brain-juddering effects.
Recorded (note, not ‘produced’) by Roli Mossiman, former drummer with the legendary Swans, and notable for production work for Young Gods, The The, Celtic Frost, Skinny Puppy and New order, amongst others, ‘Cheval Ouvert’ is swings low and hits hard.
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‘III’ is a Swans-like trudge, reminiscent of ‘Coward’ – heavy percussion accompanied by a subsonic bass grind so slow you could drive a tank through the spaces between the notes. The insect scuttle of ‘IV’ worms over a ferocious howl of bass and guitar feedback, a slain beast’s dying throes dragged out for an agonising quarter of an hour. The drums slowed to such a point as to carry no rhythm, each beat an explosive blast that ricochets into the abyss, the vortex of noise dragging the listener down, down, down into the earth…
Monno Online
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