Did you know that Scion, as in the car brand, had an Audio and Visual branch? I sure didn't, and I think a lot of people didn't know this either. Sure, the cars had commercials, but that's not what I'm talking about. Ths AV branch acts as an outlet for creativity through films, music, and more. Shocker? Why, yes, but nowhere near as shocking as one of the releases from this company. Crusher marks an EP release through Scion AV for the Washington, DC based Grindcore act, Magrudergrind, and while one may see the logo and immediately turn some people off, there's no need to shy away, as this is, for the most part, a solid, blistering Grindcore assault that will have fans of the style salivating.
Of course, that's for the most part. Crusher only lasts a eleven minutes and twenty three seconds, but manages to squeeze in six tracks of Grindcore, Noisecore, and a little odd experimentation into the mix. The production quality of Crusher is about what you expect it to be, being a little muffled, but still strong and has a heaviness about it brought on by the signature distortion used with the style, as well as the catchy guitars that are playing some simple, yet fast paced music against blisting drumming that isn't just all blast beats. For the most part, the songs on this EP are very short, with a few of these tracks, it's rough because they are done so well that it leaves you wanting more. "Leech" and "Conditioned Minds", for example, are two well composed tracks that will tear your face off from the start. Of course, "Conditioned Minds" has a nice transition between the tracks that gives it a rather natural flow.
A good chunk of the EP is essentially what the release starts off with on "Leech". The music slams and grinds away with a blistering fury and matching vocal performance that is as energetic as the blast beats and guitars are. However, it's "Heaviest Bombing" that suddenly changes things around. While the music is absolutely intense Grind, half way through this track, it suddenly goes into a very laid back sounding rap song with some slow rapping going on against the rather spacey-sounding beats that, you can argue, best fit against the Scion logo and concepts. Aside that, "Cognition", the longest track by far, which is just a little shorter then all the other tracks combined, starts out as strong and punishing as the rest of the release, but quickly slows down, and eventually drones on into what sounds like nothing more then Noisecore, set up through amplifier feedback, leaving a foul taste for the listener at the end of such a crushing release.
The grindcore on here is simply punishing and brutal. The first five tracks on here are all intense and insane songs that show why Magrudergrind is so well known in some circles, but proves it's a shame that they are not as well known as they should be. Of course, the rap section on "Heaviest Bombing" could have been left out, though it seems to give a bit of a warning to "Cognition", which isn't a bad song, as the slower portion falls in and out of drawn out, and the guitar solos on it work out nicely to give it a little more of a somber chaotic feel, it just starts to become unpleasant when the ambience kicks in and the song gradually turns into a more Noisecore effort then anything, drawing out the song to it's end in an attempt to make what could have been a decent two, two and a half minute song into an over five minute track to have this release labelled as an EP, and not a CD Single. But, even still, this is an effort with great material that is pretty much what fans of Grindcore, and the band would expect, and depending on your dedication to well done Grindcore that is chaotic and merciless, it may very well be worth your money for the first five minutes.
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