*** Thirty Ought Six HAG-SEED(MUTE)
The preponderance of seemingly cryptic song titles on Hag-Seed -
"Moreau," "Tourmaline," and "Analept" to name three - may have you
thinking you've run across the latest ambient-techno release from
across the Atlantic. But the kinetic, pounding drums, frenzied,
distorted bass, and slashing white-noise guitar that collide on the
opening "Tike" should clear up any misunderstanding. Thirty Ought Six
(a rifle-cartridge size) are a trio from Portland, Oregon, with a raw,
muscular approach that recalls the early melodic rage-core of
Hüsker Dü and the stark, emotionally driven post-punk of
Mission of Burma. (Most of the song titles, by the way, can be decoded
with a little help from American Heritage.) In "Governor,"
singer/bassist Sean Roberts rages against an old enemy of punk - the
cops - with lines like "Any thug can get a warrant and kick in your
door." Guitarist David Blunk and drummer Ryan Paravecchio fuel
Roberts's thoughtful rage by breaking the tuneful drone of his bass
with sudden corrosive squalls of noisy confusion à la
Sonic
Youth. There may be nothing new about fusing muscle and melody this
way, but it still doesn't sound old or stale. (Thirty Ought-Six open
for Edsel at T.T. the Bear's Place this Wednesday, November 22.)
- Matt Ashare
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