Contrastic

The Czech Republic’s grind and goregrind industry is 120 times better than any other in the world. For years, this little country has released album after album of baffling, technical, original, and brilliant grindcore, most of which I own already. From the swaying melodies of Lykathea Aflame, the chuggy old school feel of Reek Of Shits, the insanely well calculated blasting of Alienation Mental, Purulent Spermcanal’s goofy, smoked out sense of humor, !T.O.O.H.!’s prog-grind oddities, and Ahumado Granujo’s mix of techno, legos, pornography, and goregrind, I can only assume there is something in the water. How can one area produce so much greatness without wearing thin once in a while? HOW?

But anyway, here we have another band to add to the ever-growing list: Contrastic. What really drew me to this band was not the music, as I’d never heard of them prior to that moment, but the cover art. The Little Mermaid? That’s freaking amazing. I knew I had to have this once I saw it’s origin, and picked it up online in a matter of seconds. Did I regret it? NO! I never regret a purchase! But seriously, this is some great stuff. I mean, really great.

Contrastic play a very strange, unclassifiable genre, fusing technical neo-grind with hardcore punk, techno, refreshing melodies, and bizzare fills and interludes. The production is a little rough sometimes due to the distortion, but that sits well with me, as this band’s talent shines through incredibly well. Four vocal styles are present here, from the standard growls, the hardcore yells, screeches, and well placed pitch shifting, making sure the sound stays fresh and as interesting as the first time you hear it. The length, which is always an important factor, is just under 30 minutes, so there really is no time for rehashing riffs or half hearted solos. In a way, it’s similar to Fuck...I’m Dead, Assuck, and XXX Maniak. Not musically, but because it’s over before you know it, but you feel like you’ve had a very fulfilling listen.

I’ve listened to this album about 17 times in the two months I’ve had it, (which should tell you something) so what are you waiting for? If you’re an established fan of the Czech scene, this is a very worthy purchase. Heck, even if you don’t love grind, you’ll probably find something of interest here. Contrastic is a great band, and I eagerly await there sophomore release. By the way, I suggest you use the list found in paragraph one as a shopping list.