Artist: Indecision
Label: MIA
Release Date: 10/26/99
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Title: Release the Cure Artist: Indecision Label: MIA Release Date: 10/26/99 |
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Abyss's Review:
Metal vs. Hardcore. Hardcore vs. Metal. Two musical genres that seem to have so much in common but invoke such derision within the extreme music scene. I have to admit I am an admirer of Hardcore, but I am far from a fan. Indecision strikes me as a palatable Hardcore band, meaning that they are best defined as crossover. I generally like a Hardcore band more if they are rooted in metal, and this band is. Many of their riffs are headbanging thrash, in their more biting moments, but they are by more accounts a Hardcore band. Lyrical content, being much more political than metal, that centers on government conspiracies, while it holds no specific interest for me, is a nice change of pace at the least (I mean fuck it, I watch the X-Files). Holding, an admittedly, biased point of view, I wonder if the Hardcore faithful consider this a sellout. Indecision has proven their metal capabilities, and border on being impressive. Where I have the most problem is in the repetitive, one phrase choruses that many of these bands tend to utilize. It is possible, at times, to mistake this band for a truly metal outfit, in the way that Skinlab, and Pissing Razors are. They share the same affinity for groove (Hardcore's best contribution, in my opinion), but their darkness is much different. Their reality is much more realistic than their metal peers are. This is either a liability or strength (or doesn't really matter) based on your own personal preference. The mix, between the two genres, should be appreciated by fans on both sides of the fence, but will most likely not be either's favorite album. In this respect, the album strikes me as generic, which comes out harsher than it is meant, but it is attributed to the fact that they walk the line between the two so well. They even delve into areas that are outside of extreme hardcore, hitting a vibe that seems inspired by Fugazi. This is most easily evidenced by the track "Save Me." Now, I do admit, they take this influence to much heavier ends of the spectrum than Fugazi, but I find it hard to believe they would deny a strong influence from them. My favorite tracks on the album seem to be close to the beginning, namely: "Higher Side of Low" and the title track. Unfortunately I have little more to say. Hardocore fans, I assume will enjoy this crossover album, and metal fans most likely will too. A band that has me interested, if not excited, and one I will pay attention to from now on. You should probably add another skull if you are interested by conspiracy theories.
"Holding, an admittedly, biased point of view, I wonder if the Hardcore faithful consider this a sellout. Indecision has proven their metal capabilities, and border on being impressive."
Death's Review:
Sad to say, but the analysis is essentially thus: boring aggro-metalcore. Sure, the moments of metallic riffage are ultimately enough to render the final verdict on Release the Cure, actually, only mediocre at worst. But even an abundance of the mighty distorted riff cannot save this album from an early discard.
Why? Start with the fact that Release the Cure is not even slightly original. But more troubling than the record's unoriginality is its almost lifeless delivery. There is almost nothing memorable in this suprisingly uninspired release.
"Even an abundance of the mighty distorted riff cannot save this album from an early discard." Notwithstanding the band's own assertion of its harcore status, Indecision is definitely at least somewhat metal. Nevertheless, be it "hardcore" or "metal," "unispired" in either genre is almost universally fatal.
The first track, "Higher Side of Low" reminds me so much of Chaos A.D. -era Sepultura at times, I finally understand that the writing was on the wall for the Brazilian band's descent into quasi-hardcore even when they were still making great records. Throughout, the pummelling, double guitar rhythmic riff attack at song's end makes it easy to get into thinking this kicked ass on a casual listen.
And perhaps, for some, it does. I imagine Indecision puts on a killer live show. There is nothing inherently wrong with this album -- many of the elements are there. And the opening up of the vocals for a moment on "Crawling" hint at elements of extra creativity just dying to get out. But it's not enough, and at the end of the day, I jut don't care. Heard it all before, and there's so much metal and so little time.
Hel's Review:
There are certainly things about this album to like. The music is heavy. There's a female guitar player (there's not enough of us in this scene) who shows she can play as heavily as the boys. Unfortunately, it's the things they use to try to make themselves stand apart that I like least. I am overwhelmed by the irrationality of their propaganda, to the point where I am forced to take it into consideration instead of judging this on the merits of the music alone.
The first thing that bugged me about this album is that one of the best songs on it will never be heard. It's a bonus track about 20 minutes after the album ends. The problem with these tracks has always been that the only way to hear them is to wait through the interminable silence between the "last" song on the album and the hidden track. The very thing that makes them "bonus" makes them unlikely to be heard.
"Only the CD savvy, like myself, who know that if your player doesn't reset to "1" when the track ends, know there will be a hidden track eventually." So most bands put silly crap there, knowing that the only way it will be heard is if someone doesn't get up to change the CD or turn the stereo off after they listen to the album. But not Indecision. They put a full song there and the major reason I find it annoying is because it would be a good song otherwise. This is a song I'd like to know the name of. Maybe a song to be requested live. But no. Only the CD savvy, like myself, who know that if your player doesn't reset to "1" when the track ends, know there will be a hidden track eventually. However, even I don't have the patience to wait 20 years to hear this song, good as it may be.
The other thing I find troubling is the extensive diatribes enclosed with the CD. First off, most bands with a message try to let their songs get that across for them. Other bands, like Rage Against the Machine, have causes that they advocate in their music and they also provide information to contact specific organizations if the listener is interested in participating in the furtherance of the cause. But not Indecision. They don't advocate a cause, they advocate paranoia. There is a full-on Oliver Stone level conspiracy rant confronting you when you open the jewel box.
"I'm just being controlled by the government through my computer keyboard and "they" are forcing me to say these things via subliminal electrical waves eminating from my refrigerator. Whatever." Open the booklet up, and you will find an immensely incoherent rant entitled, "Thoughts on Convenience and Control." Apparently, my DVD player is a government mind-control plot. Excuse me? I certainly hope they're joking. I've read that particular paragraph a couple of times now, and while I see the point the intensely paraniod thought is trying to get across, I still wonder: WHY? Obviously, the author feels some sort of action is necessary, but what? Should I throw out all my entertainment electronics? If I do, how do they expect me to listen to their CD?
While the music is extremely listenable, I find myself whacking off skulls left and right for the nuttiness of the "message" they felt compelled to shove down my throat. But, you know, I'm just being controlled by the government through my computer keyboard and "they" are forcing me to say these things via subliminal electrical waves eminating from my refrigerator. Whatever.
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