MULTI PURPOSE CHEMICAL (MPC) are a Liverpool-based, multi-cultural heavy/thrash metal outfit who have all the components necessary for their stomping, head-banging, ear-bleeding, brain-haemorrhage-inducing carnival of noise.
There are overtones of Cypress Hill, Incubus, System of a Down, and the ever delightful Soulfly - although there are unpredictable surprises in there such as the odd salsa and funk vibe. The production on this E.P (produced by Ace, ex-Skunk Anansie) really brings out the various flavours in the mix, and the personality of the band as a whole is really brought forward. This band obviously have a lot of character, and you get the impression that they would be exciting live performers.
However, unfortunately on listening more closely to the lyrics, I was put off considerably by some of the content.
For example, and I realise that I'm being very picky here, but if MPC are going to make a point of randomly spurting out the obvious clichés such as "There is no God" (title track Cult), and then in the very next song on the E.P have a chorus that goes "No to US occupation, No to Saddam, Yes to Islam" (Death for Sale), then one wonders what precisely they are going on about?
I fully empathise with the anti-Iraq war sentiments, and the Cult E.P is littered with them. It's encouraging that here we have a proactive band who aren't just going to sit on the fence, but in this context, outright pro- or anti- religious statements - and bizarrely, both on this EP - may cloud the real issues that MPC are trying to articulate (i.e. outrage at the US occupation of Iraq, and the concept of US/Western Imperialism).
|
Its bad enough when you're confronted with your average pub philosopher, but when there is a higher-profile platform to air your views from then the responsibility has more gravitas associated with it.
Their music is great, absolutely spot on. But if they are going to go down the road of protest, then I sincerely hope they don't blow any opportunities for spreading what they have to say by alienating the audience via needless inflammatory comments and/or confused messages.
I'll step down from my soap-box now, but lads, get your affiliations sorted before throwing the proverbial rattle out of the pram.
|
