Pure Negative - Insert [Twist] Pull
This one came somewhat out of the blue, as Pure Negative are a band that can only be described as technical progressive death-thrash... yeah, try saying that three times really fast. It's definitely a pool for talent, boasting members of Dripback, Affluenza, Labrat and Damnas in the band's ranks so obviously my expectations are rather high. Enter Insert [Twist] Pull, their debut album.
Progression is definitely the name of the game here, and as nearly every track breaches the five minute mark you would expect it to get rather tedious pretty quickly. While there's a degree of truth to that, for the most part Pure Negative have done a very good job keeping things entertaining and I reckon that each member's previous, varied experience has helped Insert [Twist] Pull claw it's way out of a potential death trap. With combined experience in grind, death metal and thrash the band has a lot to work with and manage to utilise everything in an acceptable way without making it seem too forced or out of place - yes there's a bit of repetition but ultimately, it works out surprisingly well. In fact, I'd actually go so far to say that it's an almost unique blend of influences since there's very little I feel I can draw a comparison to here... there're elements of your standard Slayer and Mastodon along a plethora of death metal influence, but I'd say that it also has a lot in common with the likes of Strapping Young Lad or Meshuggah with the groove, progressive tendencies and moderate technicality on display. It really is an impressive piece of work the likes of which I haven't come across often, and in all honesty it's only let down by small bouts of repetition and the fact that when most tracks on your album are over six minutes of epic progression... well, you're going to lose track of where you are.
So one more short and sweet review for the pile. Insert [Twist] Pull is an album that's really outside of my comfort zone and an extremely rare release that I almost find more interesting as a specimen for me to carefully observe over time rather than enjoy as an album, yet I happily find myself doing both. This is one I'll heartily recommend to anybody looking for something a bit different or off the cuff, but casual listeners who like their songs brief and to the point will most definitely be put off by it. Overall, a very impressive piece of work.
Progression is definitely the name of the game here, and as nearly every track breaches the five minute mark you would expect it to get rather tedious pretty quickly. While there's a degree of truth to that, for the most part Pure Negative have done a very good job keeping things entertaining and I reckon that each member's previous, varied experience has helped Insert [Twist] Pull claw it's way out of a potential death trap. With combined experience in grind, death metal and thrash the band has a lot to work with and manage to utilise everything in an acceptable way without making it seem too forced or out of place - yes there's a bit of repetition but ultimately, it works out surprisingly well. In fact, I'd actually go so far to say that it's an almost unique blend of influences since there's very little I feel I can draw a comparison to here... there're elements of your standard Slayer and Mastodon along a plethora of death metal influence, but I'd say that it also has a lot in common with the likes of Strapping Young Lad or Meshuggah with the groove, progressive tendencies and moderate technicality on display. It really is an impressive piece of work the likes of which I haven't come across often, and in all honesty it's only let down by small bouts of repetition and the fact that when most tracks on your album are over six minutes of epic progression... well, you're going to lose track of where you are.
So one more short and sweet review for the pile. Insert [Twist] Pull is an album that's really outside of my comfort zone and an extremely rare release that I almost find more interesting as a specimen for me to carefully observe over time rather than enjoy as an album, yet I happily find myself doing both. This is one I'll heartily recommend to anybody looking for something a bit different or off the cuff, but casual listeners who like their songs brief and to the point will most definitely be put off by it. Overall, a very impressive piece of work.
1. -Overture-
2. Insert [Twist] Pull
3. 7th Empire
4. The Return
5. I Work For Dick Jones
6. Cider Complex
7. World Falls Down
8. Your Misery
2. Insert [Twist] Pull
3. 7th Empire
4. The Return
5. I Work For Dick Jones
6. Cider Complex
7. World Falls Down
8. Your Misery
Self released
Reviewer: Dave Ingram Jr.
Sep 10, 2013
Sep 10, 2013
Next review:
Protector - Reanimated Homunculus
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