Kill Trend Suicide

Brutal Truth, seminal avatars of extreme music, one of the 'big four' of grindcore (along with Napalam Death, Terrorizer, and...the fourth one (debatably) being either Carcass or Old Lady Drivers. Bassist Danny Lilker is one of the members, alumni of equally seminal bands like Anthrax, S.O.D., and Nuclear Assault. This only serves to consolidate this bands credentials, history, and place in extreme music of any genre.

From the opening scream of 'Blind Leading the Blind' you know you are in for a hell of a thrill ride, and this band does not disappoint. Brutal Truth explore several styles of rock music while maintaining an essential thrashiness throughout. I'm not going to go into an extended rant about how 'Kill Trend Suicide' redefines extreme music, because it doesn't. What it does do is present you with certain elements that have been presented in grindcore before, albeit from an entirely different angle, as well as ideas that have never been presented on a grindcore album before. There are the to-be expected grindcore parts but there are also thrashy, Master-style arrangements, stoner-riffs, Noisecore sensibilities that are a percursor to bands like The Locust and Daughters, innovative drumming, and slower numbers like 'I Killed My Family', all delivered in a consistent and quality fashion.

Kevin Sharpes vocals are simply outstanding on this record. They are not Lee Dorian-style caveman growls nor are they the shouty d-beat abuse of Terrorizer's Oscar Garcia. More often than not the aforementioned Mr. Sharpe is in the higher vocal range, which make these songs even more unique and appealling. Some of Exit-13's influence has rubbed off on the songwriting here, particularly on the bass-heavy 'Hypocrite Invasion', yet another standout track. Musically and thematically, this record is not as harsh and bleak as 'Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses' -but it is more clever. It is extreme without being menacing, just a very fun record. As a 'grindcore' record, there is simply nothing comparable to it-not only does it assault your senses, it is also highly catchy and accomplishes something rare in this genre-it is entertaining as fuck.