With the new Chemistry Of Consciousness (Relapse), frontman Joel Grind expands the Toxic Holocaust sound, explodes it with color and textures that seem more vibrant than the none-more-blackness of 2011’s Conjure And Command. The speed and righteous indignation of artists like Discharge and G.B.H. combine with the massive mixdown and mastering by heavy-music maven and Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou, creating a juggernaut of an album, a record that fires on all cylinders all the time. “Awaken The Serpent,” “Mkultra” and “Out Of The Fire” smack the listener upside the head like the wayward boot of an especially surly crowd surfer. Bassist Phil Zeller will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our recent Toxic Holocaust feature.
Zeller: Another obvious one really, but I can’t say enough how much I’ve always loved this record. My lists could go on and on with metal classics that are all worthy of mention, but this one is truly a monolith for me. Between sheer rawness and intensity (my love of punk shines through again) are some of the most killer riffs ever put on vinyl. The sound was born with Hellhammer, but flourished in this debut. Every time I hear it, it leaves me asking but one question: Are you morbid?!?
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y0DjKi-Rs0
