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It's been some fun times for me lately, at least as far as coverage for Metal Bandcamp goes. The latest in a string of honest-to-goodness fun bands to come my way is Australia's Bateman. Their debut full-length SMUT is ten tracks of pure adrenalized and twisted hardcore.
The quintet mash up a few permutations of the hardcore style, and throw in some death metal and noise to confound and crush on these high energy tunes. Sometimes they even work a groove metal angle. But you know, in a cool way. They may take the road less traveled but all the blood, sweat and beers spilt on the way are worth it.
A decidedly live energy resonates from every pore. There's an elastic violence present that is born from the stage. The pull and tension and full-on release of a hammering downstroke compels the listener to in turn release their own tensions in a bodily manner. It's all done with a spirit of playfulness pushing at the ridiculous. In fact, it's lighthearted (though punishing) enough that it's the sole reason I haven't torn anyone's head from their shoulders these last couple days. It's like therapy.
As much as Bateman's suckerpunching, Converge/DEP rubber room riffage throws you off the wall, the vocals are the clincher. Multiple personalities vie for attention as the voices boil to the surface in seeming randomness. At any given time the savagery ranges from a hellhound's growl to a tortured banshee wail, hardcore bark or Jello Biafra on a week long-meth bender.
There's plenty of vicious breakdowns (tasteful), skronky guitar lines and even some melody. It's all unapologetically in your face and potently infectious. They even mix in some pop-punk sensibilities and cleaner tones. If you can imagine a cocktail of Cancer Bats, Every Time I Die and Red Fang being served without reserve at a mental hospital, you're on the right track.
Toss your stuffed shirts and societal inhibitions in the trash and dive into some SMUT!
[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]
P.S. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Bateman's cover of Everclear's “Heroin Girl”. It's quite possibly the best cover I've ever heard. Holy “Make-it-your-own” Batman! Er, Bateman! And it's free! They won't even let you pay for it!
[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]