Corrections House is a consortium of members from sludge and post-metal bands Minsk, Eyehategod and Neurosis amongst others. Drum Programming, sound distortions and a mix of urban and industrial atmospheres can be found on this heavy work, which can be frenetic and depressive. “A wholly cerebral, impossible-to-pinpoint kaleidoscopic synthesis of mechanical decomposition, atmospheric abnormalities, and poetic putrefaction” is the official take on this musical representation of a negative vision.
The vision is presented clearly on the spoken title track just before the end. Calling on everyday life, every aspect of human failings and delusion is exposed. “LastCity Zero” should be sub-titled “Pessimism”. But whilst the spoken word presents the message, so too does the musical fusion, which is experimental and innovative in its nature. The percussive effects are amazing and unusual. “Serve or Survive”, which opens the album is typically heavy, dark and industrial. The sounds waves, which lean towards post-metal as you might expect with Neurosis’s Scott Kelly on board, are special. The fast and hard-hitting “Bullets and Graves” then leans towards punk, yet it is also industrial and even playful. The distorted add to the weirdness. By the time “Part Leg and Three Fingers” came on, I felt I was listening to something between late Beatles and Aborym. The voice screams distantly and distortedly, as a war-like march goes on. There’s a strangely distorted eastern rhythm. This was now reminding me of Tiamat their most woozy. Sanford Parker, the man behind the programming and the producer of this strange work, is having a field day. The spooky and faintly indistinguishable sound of the saxophone emerges. But it’s the drum pattern which dominated my aural senses. There’s an air of disorder and chaos. Echoing enhancements create both a vibrant and nightmarish air. An acoustic front develops into an all-embracing post metal style. “Dirt Poor and Mentally Ill” maintains the lively beat but with its hypnotic and enhanced industrial noises, it’s like being in a widget factory. Darkly spoken words heighten the intensity and sense of horror. It’s very effective. “Dirt poor and mentally ill”, screams the vocalist. We get the point. The mood has become more dark and sinister. After the drowsy “Hallows of the Stream” comes the cynical “Last City Zero”. The album ends with “Drapes Hung by Zero”. The sounds are those of mechanically-operated pistons, industrial noises and Hawkwind-like swirling psychedelia. The mood darkens and the track descends into a mystical and melancholic maelstrom of horror and decadence. It is fitting for the album as a whole. The sound may be unclear and distorted but the grim message is clear.
This album is not one that I guess anyone could warm to but without doubt the experimentation of sounds, coldness and cynicism makes “Last City Zero” interesting.
(7.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
www.facebook.com/CorrectionsHouse
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