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Crash > Untamed Hands in Imperfect World > Reviews
Crash - Untamed Hands in Imperfect World

Korea still thrashes - 65%

DethFanatic, September 8th, 2015
Written based on this version: 2014, CD, Sony Music

Ah, Crash. These Korean thrashers just never got the attention they deserved. I first heard these guys when their debut album came out when I was living in Korea. On the EP in question these guys are pounding right along with their own brand of Korean thrash that they've recently returned to on 2010's The Paragon of Animals. Prior to that they'd experimented with various industrial elements and other assorted weirdness; not that they didn't necessarily pull it off, but it was a pretty big departure from where they started.

The problem is that they may be victims of their own success - their 1994 debut, Endless Supply of Pain, was an out-of-nowhere, "what the hell is this?!?" moment that surprised people who heard it with its quality. After their more experimental middle period and subsequent return to a thrashy, slightly death-influenced sound, they're still quality purveyors of thrash but they're also still trying to regain the form they had back in 1994.

The production is relatively solid. The mix is decent, although the bass could be a bit more audible. The guitars have the required amount of crunch, but it's a more modern digital-sounding distortion rather than old-school tube tone, and that can sometimes annoy people. Doesn't bother me, as it works perfectly fine here. Lead tones are slick and smooth.

There are a few negatives to contend with. First off, these tracks sound like they might've been leftovers from their 2010 album session. There just isn't too much here to differentiate them fully from a lot of what you hear there. Also, An Heung-Chan's vocals seem a bit forced in places, and some of the effects employed in places like the echo in Blistering Train are a bit obnoxious. Finally, some of, ok a lot of, the leads are just there to fill the spot marked "solo". Technically they're perfectly fine, but they could use to be either a bit more aggressive, or, back to the leadoff track Blistering Train again, a bit longer and more expressive. Former guitarist Yoon Doo-Byeong is absent following his return for their 2010 release, which takes away from the lead playing.

They've still got some outstanding moments, though, such as Invisible Beast. This may be the standout track on the EP, starting off like any of their other relatively formulaic tunes but kicking into a middle bit complete with cleaned-up guitars, some synth or keyboard effects, and harmonized guitar lines that wouldn't be out of place on an Iron Maiden album. The final track War Inc. is another solid effort, delivering a healthy amount of groove under the verse and some of the better lead work on the EP.

At the end of the day, these guys still bring the riffs and the EP is a worthwhile listen. I'll give it a 65, think of it as three out of five stars - it's not a classic, and nowhere near as good as their 1994 or 2010 albums, but still has glimpses of the kind of quality music these guys are capable of.