Orthrelm - 20012 (Self-Released, 2012)

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The duo of Mick Barr and Josh Blair, known as Orthrelm, has played a polarizing role in metal, simultaneously opening its doors to the avant-garde and stirring contempt with the generality of its fanbase. Their earliest critical target was 2002's Asristir Vieldriox, which featured 99 tracks and 12 minutes of frenetic shredding and drum sputters ceasing to transition into one another and almost simulating a series of 99 false starts. On the other side of the coin, Orthrelm gained considerably more applause for OV in 2005, a single-track, 40-minute barrage of the band's preexisting sound in a repetition-centric context. Following a five-year hiatus and a compilation on ugEXPLODE comes the impending 7" release of 20012, a much more refined affair in duration and content.

In the opening seconds of "Washp (Mine)" amplifiers buzz, fingers slide across strings, and a hi-hat is closed; these details may not be significant in any context other than a listener eagerly awaiting a band's return. Barr's dynamic fretboard workout and Blair's complexly interlocking drums remain characteristic of Orthrelm's past, but 2 minutes inward it becomes clear that keen honing has been employed. The noodling happens upon coherency and melody, quirks not often associated with the band's work. More uncharted territory is covered at the 5-minute mark, when the veil of distortion is lifted and the drums roll with momentum and decline; it's a brief flirtation with jazz-rock, yet another adhesive movement in this staggering side.

"96" is unsurprisingly a cousin to its preceding side, and if perceivable it's even an more elaborate configuration. Barr and Blair link into a single metallic timbre, uniformly battering auditory senses with each strident blow of unfettered virtuosity. Though laudable, its 7 minutes are almost too much to process even after multiple revisits. Any reader familiar with Orthrelm could probably sympathize with me. Once the cut abruptly ends, a "yeah!" is muffled in the background-- a cheer of extrication to commemorate this reunion and the sweat wrung out to bring these blazing instrumentals into fruition.


[Orthrelm Website]
[Stream/Buy 20012 from Orthrelm]