The Last Upper

Though the metal acts of both the mainstream and so-called "underground" tend to be in perpetual personnel flux, it's comforting to know that as musicians, the personnel themselves never change. Fresh from the split of the thrash/death hybrid Epidemic, songwriter and (thankfully, 2nd) lead guitarist Erik Moggridge decided to take his questionable skills in an entirely new direction: grindcore. Sadly, this did not translate into an improvement in quality, and in many ways, Old Grandad's "The Last Upper" is a steep decline even in comparison to Epidemic's worst moments.

Combining the lyrical sensamea sensibility of stoner acts such as Electric Wizard with the punk-tinged, full-speed aggression of early-era Napalm Death, Old Grandad somehow manages to juxtapose thoroughly disgusting gore into the wall of noise, as well. The end result is, in a word, bad; however, as childishly (and hilariously) awkward as the lyrical themes can be ("Your Guts on Rye" is a perfect example), they are redeemed by the tongue-in-cheek delivery and completely tasteless excess.

The real enemy to enjoyment of this release is the musicianship, or the stark lack thereof. Displaying a distressing lack of growth in either breadth or raw skill since his former band's termination, Moggridge flails with a complete lack of subtlety or form throughout the entire album. Solos are sloppy, with Moggridge's trademark "Poor Man's Kerry King" schtick ensuring he misses notes by a full octave at regular intervals, and the riffing is ham-fisted enough to make even nu-metal acts resemble virtuosos in comparison. What Moggridge lacks in ability, though, he more than compensates for in dangerous enthusiasm, unabashedly plowing forward with a full head of steam, seemingly desiring to pummel the listener into submission rather than charm him. The rhythm section is hardly noticeable or even worth mentioning, as their contributions seem to exist solely add instrumentation to the mix--Old Grandad is Moggridge's project, and his efforts rule the roost.

Completely devoid of taste, subtlety, inventiveness, or even a glimmer of skill, "The Last Upper" is the next natural step in the progression of an addict who was unable to kick the habit during thrash metal's heyday. Amateurish and histrionic, Old Grandad's efforts are worth a listen solely for their comedic contributions: fans looking for a serious inheritor to the Epidemic legacy should instead see what Guy Higby and Mark Bodine are up to these days.