The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: Dissimulate
Artist: The Berzerker
Label: Earache Records
Release Date: 8/20/02

Rating: 3 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Requiem (9/17/02):
    Credit must be given where credit is due. Much credit is due to the original sound and approach of Australian grind crushers, The Berzerker. The fact that they hide behind scary masks like many schlock rock groups are doing nowadays is no particular feat, however their approach via the computer laced drum kit offers something I've yet to hear in the world of grind. And while it's refreshing to hear a new approach on a lackluster genre of music, the end emotion I feel after spending some good time with this is not much different than how I feel about many other grind acts: bored.

    In part, the whole drum sound thing fascinates me. At first I had the impression that the drummer solely used an electronic drum kit, but upon further investigation, I guess they just use a triggered kick drum like most death metal bands out there. This kick drum, instead of generating a "real" kick drum sound, sounds more like the effect you hear when you are playing a basketball video game (the sound when the ball hits the court). And quite frankly, I'm all for a more industrialized sound because the technology is there, so use it. These drums are played at a very rapid rate possibly contending for the fastest drums out there. The core of the music sports a heavy Brutal Truth-meets-Carcass-at-a-rave vibe. Low register vocals, high register vocals, grinding guitars and what sounds like a full electronic drum kit played at the speed of light. And they even do a cover of Carcass' "Corporal Jigsaw Quandary" which is the highlight, if I must say so myself. I've heard some call it cyber grind, and that about sums it right up.

    I give the band credit for being original because by all means does the grind genre need it. Who would have ever thought to put a Godflesh album on 500 rpms if humanly possible? The Berzerker probably has. Who would have ever been fascinated by a CD skipping at an almost inhumanly comprehendible rate? You guessed it. This is sonic madness untouched by anyone as of yet. They are apparently driving their own bandwagon. Let's see if anyone dares to hop on.
    3 out of 5

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