ANTIGAMA-DRUGS OF FAITH -- SPLIT

Antigama track listing:

01. Herd
02. Gift
03. Zombi


band origin: Warsaw, Poland -- 2000
label: Selfmadegod
web: http://www.antigama.net
http://www.myspace.com/antigama


Antigama are a fierce psycho-storm forging many diverse sonic elements at dizzying speeds, and not at all lo-fi -- Pig Destroyer and Job For A Cowboy come to mind -- and is this not the same Antigama whose previous work resembled that of guttural Polish grind acts such as Squash Bowels or Neuropathia? Perhaps, but not on this disc. Perhaps it's the new bass player, or perhaps Antigama were more influenced by the slow death of tourmates Blindead or the more hardcore and punk influenced NYIA and Drugs of Faith. Don't get me wrong, Antigama have not really slowed down, although they showed that in "Resonance" with tunes like "Psychonaut" they can do that, and yes, the same manic intensity and chaotic preciseness is here in the three songs from this split, and especially interesting is the cover of "Zombi" by the Italian prog rock band Goblin. I guess it is just an example of how you are who you hang around and also a lesson in diversity being a good thing.

Antigama have had a busy '07 putting out a full-length in May on Reprise, "Resonance" and split CD's with NYIA and Drugs of Faith. They also just got done with the Mindeaters tour of Poland with Blindead and Tehache.

This split disc between Antigama and Drugs of Faith was reportedly inspired by a binational split between Napalm Death and Coalesce a few months previous -- hardcore and grindcore hand in hand in outer space (cyberspace anyways) like the fucking Apollo-Soyuz or something. Well, more power to 'em. It's a good trend for metalkind, certainly.





Drugs of Faith track listing:

04. Churchianity
05. Memoranda
06. Phantom


band origin: Sterling, Virginia -- 2002
label: Selfmadegod
web: http://www.drugsoffaith.com
http://www.myspace.com/drugsoffaith


Hard to lump this band into a category as they are quite the mix of extreme styles but ... metalcore stoner grind -- howz that sound? Nah, i didn't think so either, although I do like the sound of that. I like the sound of their own term, "Grind and roll" as well. Suffice it to say Drugs of Faith fall into that nebulous zone that is hardcore. Their sound on this EP reminds me a great deal of a punk band from Austin, TX called Scratch Acid who I haven't heard anything from but since the 80's. They sound kinda like them and they sound like neurotic death bands such as Cephalic Carnage or Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Antigama, and members of Drugs of Faith are also involved in outside projects such as Deceased and Bionic Man.

Anyhow there's Only three songs to analyze here ..."Churchianity" and "Phantom" are panic-driven aggression -- interesting song structures with distinct roles for each instrument -- percussion that is very involved, bass that is fat and riffy, while the guitars are more in the scathiing trebular range and of the more chordular rhythmical variety.

"Memoranda" sounds like it is taken from an episode of "The Streets of San Francisco" or some other Quinn Martin Production. A good tune for jogging with through the concrete jungles of the big city, I'm sure.

DoF have been busy touring the European continent with Dutch band Blood I Bleed during Fall of '07 on the No Speed Limit tour, and are reporteldy working on an upcoming tour of Canada, and a new album cannot be far away. In short, Drugs of Faith are another case of big sound from a three-piece, bigger than you would think a three- piece could make, and don't let their gentle appearance fool you (they look like the Pixies or something), they are hardcore and vicious grind-metal masters!


reviewed by Mike