Massen â Gentle Brutality [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]
By Kenstrosity
If you know meâand most of you should by nowâyou know that I love bands who fearlessly combine multiple genres into one pot. I want to be blown away by their exploratory vigor, dismissing all pretense of genre loyalty with gusto. Give me something that challenges my advanced ability to categorize and compartmentalize, and you are likely to garner an instant fan. Enter Massen, a Belarusian/German Frankenstein monster who unleashed one of the best records of the year, Gentle Brutality. ENERGY SYSTEM.
Imagine, if you would, what would happen if you smashed together Anaal Nathrakhâs grindy, hooky extremity with Harmâs Wayâs and Dyscarnateâs chunkiness, then dressed the result in a warm Silent Stream of Godless Elegy coat. That is essentially what Massen sound like, and let me tell you, itâs brilliant. Of all the things you could merge into one sound, this is one concoction I never expected. Yet, Gentle Brutality is pure magic, brutally heavy and unrelenting while simultaneously exuding a violin-led beauty that lures its audience towards the next indelible hook with unstoppable momentum. ENERGY SYSTEM.
Gentle Brutalityâs immensity reveals itself early on in its forty-two minute runtime, with âEnergy Systemâ representing possibly the best opening track of 2023. Its ridiculously catchy verses and swaggering riffs are somehow overshadowed by the songâs bridge, featuring eponymous lyrics that Iâve been singing to myself every day, multiple times a day, for four months straight (so far). Then, I have the immense mid-album highlight âAskoma (Sorethroat),â which guarantees several fractures of my vertebrae in ten seconds or less, pounding skulls with the kind of groove that only diagnosed sociopaths have the emotional immunity to resist. Just when I think they canât inject any more razor sharp hooks into Gentle Brutality, Massen shove another throbbing slab of grinding groove into my face with closer âOur Melody is Not Dead,â wrapping up the record with a resounding bang and leaving me wanting another round. ENERGY SYSTEM.
Immensity notwithstanding, Massenâs musicianship across the board are truly what make Gentle Brutality special. Stealing the show almost every time she features, vocalist and violinist Kara brings power and majesty into every second she gets the spotlight, transforming even the grindiest of Massenâs material into a jig-worthy romp brimming with vitality and emotion (âCorps de Ballet,â âDisgusted,â âAskoma (Sorethroat)â). Thatâs not to shortchange Alex âAleermaââs numerous contributions as primary death vocalist, guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and bassist. His monstrous roars characterize many of this recordâs biggest hooks, and his and fellow guitarists Karymonâs and Eugeneâs riffs, leads, and solos provide a palpable sense of force to each of Gentle Brutalityâs eight tracks (but especially âDisgusted,â âAskoma (Sorethroat),â âThrowing the Stones,â and âOur Melody is Not Deadâ). Even the softer quasi-ballad âTogether Aloneâ succeeds as a result of this groupâs collaborative efforts, giving me an excellent bit of belting to practice in the car. ENERGY SYSTEM.
Simply put, Massen are a relentless, unstoppable machine, seemingly incapable of putting a bad song on record. Gentle Brutality proves that beyond a shadow of doubt. No other record in 2023 sounds like it, and few reach the same standard of quality. Gentle Brutality is irresistible, and I canât recommend it highly enough. ENERGY SYSTEM!
Tracks to Check Out: âENERGY SYSTEM,â âAskoma (Sore Throat),â âDisgusted,â âThrowing the Stonesâ
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