Blind Equation
Death Awaits


3.5
great

Review

by Mike Kaplan STAFF
October 9th, 2023 | 14 replies


Release Date: 09/15/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Bleeps, bloops, blast beats.

Okay so I’m going to be totally honest with you, I’ve never really vibed with the whole electronica meets grind thing. I tried to get into Genghis Tron when I was a teenager but it just never really clicked with me. I guess I couldn’t appreciate the contrast of the synthesizers, keys and dance oriented sections against the wall of noise and insanity.

Then I innocently chanced upon DEATH AWAITS, the sophomore album from James McHenry’s solo project turned three piece band, Blind Equation, and while I still had some difficulty really getting into it, I have to admit that this album is actually pretty damned fun.

I’ll start with the fact that the album predominantly feels like a grind album. There isn’t much of an attempt to clash dance beats against grindcore—the backbone of the songwriting is grindcore. The songs are short, the shrilly screams are nearly indecipherable, the drum patterns practically never stop, etc. From that base, the electronica elements are stacked on top, mainly through the use of specific synth lines (played by a keytar live) to replace what would be an electric guitar. My point here though is that it never feels like the album can’t decide or doesn’t know what it is, and the album flows as a result. That doesn’t mean there aren’t dancey segments or passages, but they are used sparingly and in their own context. While the last stretch of the album starts to lean into this sort of sound more heavily, it never strays from being utterly bonkers in the best way.

Of course, the focus on a specific sounds lends to the album sort of blending together a lot, especially in the top half, which causes DEATH AWAITS to become uninteresting after some time. Again, that’s not to say it isn’t a good time, it’s just that the album sort of mushes together after about ten minutes, which left me wondering when it began and where it would end.

Fortunately DEATH AWAITS has more than enough positives to outweigh this factor, and while it may not be your album of the year, it’s definitely worth a trip.



Recent reviews by this author
Aaron Parks Little Big IIIMany Eyes The Light Age
Four Year Strong analysis paralysisFuubutsushi Meridians
The Measure Heaven Is Only In Our DreamsArooj Aftab Night Reign
user ratings (22)
3.2
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
Manatea
Staff Reviewer
October 9th 2023


2072 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Another one. Again, still getting back into the swing of it. Need something that’s really gonna grab me.

Purpl3Spartan
October 9th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I listened to this the night it released and I still don't fully know what to think of it

oldsoul
October 9th 2023


302 Comments


I've been pretty obsessed with this, feel like it was really well done, a step up from their previous record and other artists in the genre

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
October 9th 2023


2072 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It was fun for sure. Not my usual jam though lol

PumpBoffBag
Staff Reviewer
October 10th 2023


1664 Comments


Very nice work, sounds rad

FREETHEGUYS
October 10th 2023


463 Comments


I remain adamant I will acknowledge cybergrind as real and valid and the people who make it are probably fine but this is so fucking bad I cannot see how you can find any merit to it. taking a basically universally ironic sound and honing it, making it cohesive has actually been to its detriment.it’s just more concentrated annoyance I can’t even chuckle at it

Mort.
October 10th 2023


26085 Comments


'electronica'

he used the bad word, get him!!

Purpl3Spartan
October 10th 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This is either a 1 or a 3.5. I found myself cringing through the album and then catching myself adding some of the songs to my library

Wildcardbitchesss
October 10th 2023


13732 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I get the “electro-grind” is kind of this album’s whole schtick, so this might just be a really dumb point, but I couldn’t help but feel like this album would be so much better with guitars replacing the keys note for note.



Everything else is great. super solid rhythms from the drummer and bass player, good screams, can’t stand the electronics for the most part.



But on the other hand, I love more than a few bands like this, most notably old Genghis, so there’s definitely something missing here imo

Hawks
October 10th 2023


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Gonna jam ahrd.

Hawks
October 11th 2023


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This ripz so fucking ahrd WOW!

Purpl3Spartan
November 23rd 2023


8992 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I still can’t believe this album exists

cylinder
December 12th 2023


3034 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I’m loving this. Really scratches that Horse the Band itch, which has been itching so bad since they quit

Hawks
December 12th 2023


93615 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Awesome album yeah.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy