First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews of singles, 7″s, EPs, and LPs which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which may not get a full review on their own.
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Ripped to Shreds – “漢奸 (Race Traitor)”
Relapse Records, 15 Sep 2022
Ripped to Shreds is heavy. “漢奸 (Race Traitor)” blasts away with ferocious and pummeling drums that slow to a deliberate dino stomp before ramping back up. The guitars are razor-sharp and the riffs are vile and tough, the leads are pretty gorgeous going over the din, and the guttural vocals are beyond my ability to comprehend. I’m not gonna say I’m any kind of death metal aficionado, but I appreciate the brutality. Despite a longer-than-my-attention-span runtime, there were enough changes along the way to keep me listening.
Review by RYAN
OFF! – “S”
Fat Possum Records, 13 Sep 2022
More free jazz-type chaos? OFF! would love to indulge you. “S” has a noisy din with some rather all-over-the-place saxophone offering up any kind of something to latch onto. The band seems restless and are trying out new ideas, especially on the released letter songs (so far “F”, “L,” and now “S”). The other pre-release singles have stuck closer to typical OFF! fare, with slightly askew hardcore being the name of the game. I don’t listen to much noisy free jazz, but I’ll be interested to see how these songs work as palette cleansers in the context of the album.
Review by RYAN
Fucked Up – “Oberon”
Tankcrimes, 11 Sep 2022
Another dive into hardcore experimenting, “Oberon” is a nearly 8 minute opus, opening with a blast of noise before turning slow and plodding, alternatingly spare and full in the music setting an ominous tone behind Damian Abraham’s filthy growl. Dragging at a Melvins-esque pace and feeling apocalyptic, I really find myself liking this song. The lead guitar that cuts through beginning around the 5 minute mark feels pretty heavy and depressing as well, with a sort of war march feel to it. And kudos to the band for never remaining static. This one’s gross and good.
Review by RYAN
Kelsey Badgrammer – “The Last Day of Summer”
Self-released, 22 Sep 2022
Kelsey Badgrammer’s brand of propulsive and simple pop punk is pretty fantastically charming. This one has a good kick to it, with a sweetly melodic vocal take and guitars that hang tight to a straight-forward chord progression that just works. My favorite part is likely the guitar run that rises around the 30-second mark – it’s a cool harmony part that sounds so right. It seems to me that lots of the Kelsey Badgrammer vibe comes from or creates nostalgia, and this one’s no different. I like it a lot.
Review by RYAN
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
