Piecemeal

CD Review
Somewhere Between Crucifixion and Resurrection Lies Redemption
9-song CD, Wonderdrug Records
Original review in The Noise, February 1999, Issue 188

The irony here is that I was having a conversation just last night about the pitfalls of placing so much emphasis on labels. You know, how we need to name, tag, compartmentalize everything in order to understand it? But if not for labeling music I would be forced to say "I hate this CD." Instead, I can say "I hate hardcore thrash metal," and this way, I can avoid insulting Piecemeal by saying "it's not you, it's me." I will never, ever fall in love with a thrash metal CD. I have nothing against these five nice drug-free vegetarians who've been making this kind of rock for almost ten years for many delighted, though probably hearing impaired, fans. Put simply, if you like this kind of thing, you'll love Piecemeal.

Piecemeal is loud. Really loud.

The first track is "Force My Sunshine," and it opens with an evil-sounding spoken growl introduction before launching into a brutal assault of screaming vocals, distorted guitars and heavy hitting drums. "Force My Sunshine" is followed by eight more songs just like it. By track 8, "Lazarus," I was so sure I'd just heard it two tracks ago that I'd have sworn that the cat stepped on the CD replay button. But the cat, a sensible creature, is not used to this kind of thing and had run for safety during "Severance," track 2, which sounds like the ultimate suicide companion.

I thank all my gods that the lyrics are printed in the CD insert, as the vocals aren't exactly intelligbile. I read them all, and Piecemeal's message is a positive one, about humanity and self-realization, even if the tone ranges from diabolically sermonic to extremist manifesto.

Though it's not my scene, it's obvious to any listener that Piecemeal knows what they're doing. Fans of hardcore and thrash will definitely appreciate this CD. These guys don't compromise. One question -- does anyone know where Kevin gets his new esophagus after every show?

 Uploaded to Youtube by echosandwaves on May 3, 2010