Lunglust – “As Guilt Collects Dust”
One thing I like about Lunglust is their quietness in presentation.
Anyone who has seen the band live is either laughing right now or figuring Slimedog’s last brain cells, the last few, remaining neurons not killed off by the alcohol, have committed Hari-Kari.
Yes, I’m aware that this is one of the loudest bands we cover. Yes, I’m aware I’ve seen them twice and have heard maybe two minutes of the vocals because of the clamorous din. Yes, I’m aware this is probably the hardest hitting rhythm section I know and that’s why I can’t hear the vocals. And yes, I’m aware that I’ve soiled myself once again.
And the later is because I’m listening to one of the most aggressive, loudest, pulverizing bands in Boston and though I feel right in calling them metal their tag of “dirty hardcore” rings true as well.
But one thing I like about Lunglust is their quietness in presentation.
Okay, okay, let me explain. All these bands, I tag them on facebook and they come on in big “CAPITAL LETTERS” just to show how powerful and strong and what larger reproductive organs they truly have over everybody else.
Lunglust comes out as Lunglust. And I appreciate that.
But what is even better is the music that is powerful and strong, gutsy and passionate, metal licks and hardcore passion, punk attitude all thrown in the mixer and let’s taste some of these tasty concoctions now:
After a boiling cauldron full of ascending guitars “Closed Casket” explodes into the light with growling, low hardcore vocals, distorted guitar buzz and smashing rhythms. The drums push and stop to slice and splice in rhythmically while a sonic guitar zooms above the distortion as the vocals passionately wail. I swear, before I played this song, I was thinking how their music is like a violent car crash and this is before I read the words. “I’m driving home from work/ Middle lane, shadow man/ He stares and makes no movement/ Swerve hard to the right/ Glass shatters in my face/ The dying man has taken flight.” This song has speed, sounds colliding off each other, fury, anger, passion and add up to one terrific song.
After a short, feedback squeal “Broken Idol” comes in with a slower, pounding to the ground beat with the vocals growling and guitars distorting once again. After a short pause the music ignites with slashing and crashing sound with passionate vocals. “You like the idol/ Clean the plate/ They bow down to greed and call it faith/ Young and dumb and born to be enslaved/ If you catch them at an early age.” The song continues on in it’s death/ hardcore/ thrash onslaught. This is another great, powerful song with an anti-organized religion theme. “And what happens to the men of the cloth?/ Cut their, cut their, cut their fucking heads off.”
“Revenge” has about two seconds of random noise before the raging vocals, explosive guitars and demolishing drums come rolling in, like a metal tank, once again. “My heart aches for you even still/ Betray the trust, destroy the will/ And have you taken all your medication?” After a short pause another part comes in with a screaming guitar above the volatile vocals, distorted guitars and crashing rhythms. “You preyed on the powerless…when all I see are living lies…when all I see I now despise…and who’s screaming?” A clanging, prog rock riff pops in, now and again, as the song grows in passion, intensity and emotion. “Revenge/ Don’t know the day/ Don’t know the hour/ Revenge.” My favorite song on the EP.
This EP, good as it is, doesn’t do justice to seeing them live. This was recorded over two years ago and the rhythm section and one of the guitarists are new.
But I guarantee if these songs just whet your appetite a bit you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see them live. Me, I think they’re overdue for some new recorded material. But they seem to play out a lot so catch them if you can.
And I don’t know if I mentioned this yet, but one thing I really like about them is their quiet presentation. And another thing is how their music roars, pure and true, loud and strong. Like a car crash in your fuckin’ ears.
(Slimedog)
