So anyone who just read my last review, will know exactly what’s going on, if you didn’t read the last one, either do it, or ignore this rant. Either way, let’s just say I have become very acquainted with Malkovich within the last hour or so.
This self titled effort on Coalition records is actually a lot more promising than the bands more recent “A Criminal Record†album. This CD has a tougher backbone, is a lot more hardcore, a lot more drilling and a lot more intense. It’s a very chaotic affair, it feels like everything is completely sporadic, and unplanned, track 10 (the band work on theme of song numbers, not titles,) is a entanglement of screeching, jagged guitar intricacy and deep, throat wrenching words, hurling at you left, right and centre. This could easily be classed as 80’s thrash metal, or modern hardcore, it just depends how you look at it.
The album 10 tracks in total, clocks in at a fast paced and slightly bleak 16 minutes, 40 seconds. I’ve heard longer 4 track E.P’s than this, so if you are out for your moneys worth, you may want to take a re-think about this album and have a browse at some of their other stuff. At points there is hardly opportunity to catch your breath as this one charges through your stereo. As I mentioned before concerning this band, and in general a lot of up and coming European bands. They seem to be making good ground in their home country, but breaking into the U.K and without doubt the U.S will be a tougher challenge as Malkovich don’t seem to have the edge which makes them notably different.
Pete
www.iammalkovich.com