Czar – Vertical Mass Grave (2011)

Vertical Mass Grave’s cover depicts a widely known, in the world of science fiction “geeks” and cinema lovers, object. It’s a Monolith. In Arthur C. Clarke’s complex universe, Monoliths are advanced machines built from extraterrestrial species that appear in the solar system, triggering evolutionary shifts in human history. They are really bad-ass objects – anyone who witnessed the terror of those hominids in Kubrick’s film can tell. Now, to those who already came up with a metaphor about how groundbreaking the band is, let’s make it clear: Czar is a modern metal band that brings nothing new to the table. Should this be a reason to condemn Vertical Mass Grave to oblivion?

Definitely not.

Raised from the ashes of the industrial metallers Acumen Nation, Czar have created an amazingly massive sound which follows the learnings of Meshuggah and their latest immit…(ough), followers. The trio from Chicago isn’t all about the bulkiness though. There’s pretty much going on even when the heavy riffing doesn’t engross all the attention. In “Diapers”, melodic passages balance the storming, whereas coiling leads add brushstrokes of melody in the rather frigid and polyrythmic construction. The dialogue between the industrialized heftiness and the robotic sentimentality echoes through most of the songs. Still, it isn’t melody nor rawness that drives the album, but rhythm.

1. Family Crest 05:27
2. Scarless 03:04
3. Cun 04:32 instrumental
4. Diapers 04:38
5. Brunt 04:28
6. Tubman Gutletter 03:53 instrumental
7. Writhe 03:47
8. Blodeuwedd 04:32
9. Spooling Down 03:00 instrumental
10. Redeemer 05:50

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