I was lucky enough to witness the brutality that is
Graf Orlock twice live. Once in a small basement show just outside of Manchester, NH and the first time at Dude Fest in 2006 or 2007. I remember they had their first singer at the time and he was a smaller dude. He was in the air as the crowd held him up as he was blasting through songs when something happened and he fell. The band kept on blasting through and the singer let out this blood curdling scream and kept on going. it was both horrifying and amazing, much like the entirety of this bands existence.
Enter in the bands newest full length release,
Crimetraveler, out on
Vitriol today (Feb 5). The band is known for their use of cult movie, action, and sci-fi related themes and snippets in their songs and live shows, but this record takes that to a whole new level. This record is basically the soundtrack to their own movie. Yes, the band created a film starring themselves for which the record is written and inspired by.
From the band:
The Crime Traveler film tells the story of a French-Canadian assassin who discovers a wormhole and travels back in time to kill American politicians so that Canada can attain superpower status in the future. As the samples selected for the album illustrate, our anti-hero zips through time and space on his mission - rubbing elbows with John Hinckley at the Reagan assassination, witnessing the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and more.
The record is nothing short of intense and brutal. Graf Orlock brings their own hybrid of metal and hardcore punk like only they can. Sometimes overwhelming, sometimes catchy, always intense!
"Bad Cell Service On Connecticut Avenue" opens the record with a "Hey, fuckface" and blistering blast-beats and soaring guitars with some great back and forth gruff as fuck vocals. There's a great melodic riff around the middle of the track too and a really cool heavy groove at the end.
"600,000 Tons Of Explosive Ordnance" has up hitting a bong hard as fuck. Heavy, classic hardcore. I love the dual / group vocal contributions. This one is slower in pace early on with some great riffs and tom work on the drums. Enter in some techy drum and guitar work. Sweet! That little solo thing too! Shit!
"Afternoon Lunch At The Red Bacchus" is a literal kick in the balls right of the bat. The recording quality of so flipping good. The guitar tone too! Full, heavy, pummeling, and clean. What? Yes! Great groove part towards and into the end. Some sweet ride.
"A Decent Proposal In A Shitty Alley" is non-stop. This one moves. Swirling, mayhem. A montage of intensity, heavy and fast paced. A tornado of riffs, little single notes, and d-beat. I don't mean to overlook the bass either. It's the backbone to these tracks. It gives that girth and linger to these songs. Always present. Always a necessity.
"Regional Turf War Spills Blood On Vegas Strip" has some of the fastest chugs I have ever heard and then that melodic part. This song is one of my favorites on the record. It takes a few different turns, each lasting just long enough and it demands a second or third or... well you get it.
"Nursing A Hangover" is something we all experience, but how about nursing one while you spill a fuck ton of oil into the ocean. You shit-turd. This is the song where the crowd completely looses their minds. The circle pits, the stage dives, running on top of people heads as far as you can until diving into the masses. Guitar slides, jumping off the kick drum, microphone to the forehead, blood, spit, people are screaming, you're in it now.
"Our Infallible Cybernetic Future" wants to know if "you're on the list, fuckface." You're probably not. It's better off, probably. You can't handle it anyways. This song has this sweet twisty dizzy sounding riff. The vocals in these tracks are so good. This band has some of the best back and forths and they each have a great gruff voice. Sometimes you get a band that try to do this but one dude sounds like an idiot. This isn't the case.
"Summer Getaway , Mount Hermon" is drippy and painful. Laugh it up. "I got an itch on the boys." This is the shortest song on the record and another one of my favorite. It's catchy and a real headbanger. There's a little solo part in there that rules.
"Difficult Decisions In The Yutani Mess Hall" makes you want to re-think that decision... This one moves. The guitar is like a whirlwind. It's like swelling and I got wicked dizzy. It was weird. Like vertigo or something.
"Cheaper, Safer, And Better Than The Real Thing" closes the record. "This is the problem with Earth today." This is how you end a record. With a fucking bang. A heavy build up throughout to this creepy credits rolling piano piece. "Go back to Mars."
As if the record and the content isn't enough, the packaging sets the bar even higher. This record is packaged with a full color 12-page news paper based on the content of the film / record.
Exploration Of The Rift In The Space-Time Continuum
Get the record now!
