Ecce Lex

Those of you who have heard the human beat-box version of Napalm Death's Twist the Knife on Nostromo's previous 'Eyesore' EP will already know the high regard that this band have for 'Fear, Emptiness, Despair'. Furthermore, 'Ecce Lex' takes that gem of reinvention and combines it with diverse styles of punky grinding noisecore and the time-shifting machinations of Meshuggah.

Their high-integrity enthusiasm has been honed and lubricated to deliver an engrossing sequence of stealthy chops to the head. The bolts-and-granite distortion never dilutes the spasmodic precision, clever grooves or tempo shake-ups. Aside from Maik's lateral cymbal frenzies being obscured from time to time, the mixing is spot on.

Seldom is a riff repeated quite the same way, with the instrumentalists circling around each other to achieve planetary alignment consonance and swirling counterpoint and dissonance. Even during moments of Botch-like metallic warmth, the Nasum-esque vocals remind you that you are going to be ripped apart again in a click.

Highlights are Stillborn Prophet (that has a superlative spiralling groove) and Feed the Living (that is Nostromo at its most indescribable, insane and inventive). It is a great pity that the land of Gruyere and Roger Federer has lost this now disbanded entity.

[originally written for Diabolical Conquest webzine]