As any modern music frequenter may be aware of, rock comes in a nearly endless amount of flavors these days, and the concept of blending genres together has recently become somewhat of a staple in making a band's sound definitive. From Women's drone-saturated, eidolic post-punk mantras to HEALTH's beat-heavy noise hymns, musicians have the ability to coalesce a variety of musical styles no matter how distanced they may stand on the genre spectrum. If Whoarfrost are to take pride in any composites made on their self-titled debut, it would be their fusion of math rock virtuosity and jazz interplay: a formula that, in theory, may not excite those with prior knowledge of material hailing from Ahleuchatistas or The Mercury Program, though when hearing may be another story.
Whoarfrost's jazz influence doesn't come heavy-handed by the incorporation of a saxophone, nor does their sense of composition channel the works of Davis and Coltrane; inspirations seem to be derived from the avant and spastic variety, particularly the late-80's trio Power Tools. Opener "The Youth Are Sniffing Waste" discloses the abusive musicianship with jarring guitar processed through transcendental effects, confounding bass, and disconcerting drum salvos. The trio, at first, sound as if their barrage is discharged for the sake of auditory violence. To play devil's advocate, the self-abuse is studious-- as displayed on "Love Sinks Deep" and "Slow Burn," Whoarfrost counter their frantic detours with awe-inspiring melodic syncopation.
A minor hindrance remains salient: this debut was recorded live to tape with no overdubs, save guitarist Jon Lipscomb's cathartic shouts. Though this stands as a testament to Whoarfrost's technical conquest and taste for adventure, it also thwarts a much-needed attack to accommodate the ferocity of the band's performance: while the guitar receives an emphasis, the drums-- and bass, especially-- are left muffled. A turn of the treble knob will essentially aid the dearth of sharpness on the first eight tracks. The only occurrence where the production becomes incongruous is on the 18-minute "Mandatory Psycho-Freakout" of the album, "Conscious Without Function," where much of the chaos is obscured by room ambiance.
As a debut, Whoarfrost have already tackled many of the detriments that seem customary for new bands: an unparalleled sound, skillful interaction, and well-traveled concepts. Fevered and abstruse yet orchestrated and perceptive, the band remains impervious to sloppiness even at their most strident. In a year where the supply of noise rock seems rather scarce, it's only necessary for a band like Whoarfrost to make their appearance and fill that void.
[Whoarfrost Myspace]
[Buy Whoarfrost from Engine Studios]
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