Review Summary: Watch out for this grind viruses!
Noxa is a Jakarta-based grind act. Formed in March 2002 by drummer Robin "Oxen" Hutagaol (RIP) and guitarist Ade Himernio Adnis, Noxa began to develop their first step of career by covering Nasum's
Inhale/Exhale. Defined themselves as straight-forward oldschool grind with lyrical concept concerns on social-politics and humanity themes, so far Noxa has released three full-length albums;
Noxa (2003),
Grind Viruses (2006), and
Legacy (2011). Among these three releases, probably
Grind Viruses is the finest first introduction to whoever wants to know how their musicality is. Before going through, it's worthy to mention that
Grind Viruses is the last album featured drummer and founder Robin Oxen who passed away in a motorcycle-crashed accident in January 17th, 2009. In context of Indonesian scene, Robin was respectable figure. He was one among early other well-known underground musicians who brought the scene arise and alive. Before forming Noxa, Robin has already been famous among Idn's metalheads for his vital role in death metal band Grausig. Also, he has ever joined the line up of thrash metal band Sucker Head. Therefore, this Noxa's
Grind Viruses, especially in Indonesia or even larger South East Asia, would be always one of Robin's real legacy beside his any other albums not only with Noxa, but also Grausig and Sucker Head.
Contains thirty one tracks and fourty-four minutes of music,
Grind Viruses provides purely a straight brutal grind. It begins with no intro, sample, or whatsoever! Opening track "Hancur" (shattered) and three follow-on tracks are able to make any grind lover to stay on tuned and waiting for what kind of other goods that Noxa offers them in next one. The listener who loves the highest level of frenetic side of the first-four tracks possibly will surprise, this is because of next two follow-on track "Sinetron Sucks" and "Keharuan Moral", are adequately less extreme. Of course, these two songs are still aggressive and energetic, however Noxa blended them with tasteful and catchy riff elements. These two tracks, especially "Sinetron Sucks", is fans favorite. Almost in every gig and concert, Noxa always performs this 'easy to chant along and head-bang' song. The listener will be able to find that such typical composition in track "In Mourning". Overall,
Grind Viruses's major style is still the more straight-aggressive approach rather than less-aggressive side of music. Whereas, there are a few songs that also incorporate with catchy and groove elements, so it's pretty fair to say them only as the complement.
As whole,
Grind Viruses is well-balanced with its pretty polished production. There's no any particular overwhelming instrument. Vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, are quite linear and proportional. Vocally, Tonny gets talent, he has his own vocals signature - strong and powerful. His high-pitched scream reminds people to many well-known early hardcore vocalist. In many passages, vocals articulation is also well-heard, despite sometimes in a few short parts Tonny also manages himself to growl. Above all, his dominant style is still a mid-ranged with heavier throaty-shout delivery. The bass is well mixed. The
listener soon will realized that bassist Biomantara has real contribution to the album, his bass work is pretty audible in almost entire the album. Guitarist Ade Himernio also delivers the goods. His fast-faced rhythms always make cruel impression upon the eardrums. His riffing, that's okay to say; it's partially memorable and varied. The drums, probably the best aspect of the album. Through
Grind Viruses, Robin Oxen has proved that he was a capable drummer. His drumming stands out due to his approach in adopting not only the more technical side of thrash, but also the more dynamics-extreme side of death
metal. In closing, this is solid release.
Grind Viruses is real proof that Noxa has maturated as grind act. The only real problem is, it's hard differentiate each one of it, especially for the first spin.
***
Recomended Tracks:
- Hancur
- Dying Inside Out
- Sinetron Sucks
- Grind Viruses
- In Mourning
- Starvation
- Lembata
- Catastrophe
Noxa's
Grind Viruses line Up:
Robin "Oxen" Hutagaol (R.I.P.) -
Drums
Ade Himernio Adnis -
Guitar
N.N. Dipa Biomantara -
Bass
Tonny Christian Pangemanan -
Vocals
