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bentsea noistalgia
Artist: Bent Sea
Title: Noistalgia
Genre: Grindcore
Release Date: 11 November 2011 (digital version), April 2012 (limited cassette version)
Label: Self-release


Album Review

Holy sh*t! Seriously, I thought I didn’t like Grindcore these days and then I discovered BENT SEA! This is just a debut EP but has an impact of a standard album. BENT SEA is a project of multi-instrumentalist Dirk Verbeuren (SCARVED, SOILWORK, ABORTED, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, PHAZE, POWERMAD) accompanied by Sven de Caluwé (ABORTED, SYSTEM DIVIDE), and Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT). In April 2012, the band was joined by NAPALM DEATH bass player Shane Embury.

The band’s official press info features the following line: “We bow to these bowel-churners: Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Repulsion, Terrorizer, Rotten Sound, Fear of God, Extreme Noise Terror, Carcass, O.L.D, Unseen Terror, Godflesh, Endura, Black Lung, Total FuckingDestruction, Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition, Blockheads, Nasum...”. Well, they surely do but the way they emulate their heroes is a clear manifestation of genius. ‘Noistalgia’ is quite a masterpiece in the sense that it offers an amazing journey into the past “days of glory” but at the same time brings new and totally unique quality. This album will not leave you bored and with a nagging feeling that you have heard it all before. Quite the opposite; violent, savage and extremely fast tracks full of relentless guitar riffs with Sven’s visceral vocal on top of it all are likely to drill deep into your skull.

The unquestionable proficiency of all band members is evident throughout the whole album, so it’s been really difficult to choose a favourite track – they are all quite brilliant. ‘Grind Control’ has however stayed with me longer than other compositions. It’s energetic if not manic, absolutely rabid and bowel twisting. Oh, and the lyric is brilliant too. Speaking of lyrics, some have called me an elitist (although I call it having a good taste) as I actually do value interesting lyrics and most bands with little to offer in this respect are not worth my attention. What I have found out is that good musicians will hardly ever embarrass themselves with rubbish lyrics though.

BENT SEA proves this assumption to be right. Their lyrics (written by Dirk Verbeuren) talk about burning political, environmental and social issues such as individual freedom and animal rights without sounding patronising. As Verbeuren aptly puts it ‘we’re not here to preach but we’re certainly not afraid of our opinions’. Not everything is serious though, ‘In One Word’ for example is a funny and witty (if not slightly sarcastic) play with various band names. To sum it up, ‘Noistalgia’ is a solid punch in the guts. If you remember the scene from ‘Braindead’ when the lawnmower proves to be extremely effective in combating the zombie invasion, you may get a better idea about this album. It’s bowel churning and entertaining at the same time. And remember, this is just BENT SEA’s debut EP.


Tracklist

01. Noistalgia (1:20)
02. Digital Disaster (1:26)
03. Blast Beat Barrage (0:22)
04. A Common Affliction (2:45)
05. In One Word (1:07)
06. Grind Control (2:04)
07. Tripwire Target (1:57)
08. Sustained Idiocy (0:33)
09. Dead Meat (1:38)
10. Truth Will Out (0:37)
11. Fool For Life (4:10)
12. Bullshit Propaganda (1:57)


Line-up

Dirk Verbeuren – drums & guitar
Devin Townsend – bass
Sven De Caluwé – vocals


Website

www.bentsea.com / www.dirkverbeuren.com


Cover Picture

bentsea noistalgia


Rating

Sound: 10
Music: 10
Total: 10 / 10


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