THE CAST PATTERN

There is no lack of heaviness on the self-titled debut from Lawrence, KS' THE CAST PATTERN. The origins of the band's style can be traced back to CONVERGE, although there are plenty of groups that have come since to which THE CAST PATTERN have more in common. One can hear some of THE RED CHORD's angular attacks, even if THE CAST PATTERN does not boast the same level of creativity and songwriting prowess. In fact, THE RED CHORD's Guy Kozowyk guests on "Shut Your…" At 28 minutes, it is a rather short album, especially considering that the last four-and-a-half minutes consist of an instrumental slow grinding, semi-melodic track called "…Homeless Mouth". It is enough however to show that the band has a lot of potential.

What you get is a collection of tracks akin to a sledgehammer busting up concrete with nary a sweet chorus to be found and certainly no musical subtlety. The recording, courtesy of the band, is extremely well done and brings out the coarse tones of the guitars and the muscular drumming of Spencer Bates. Songs stomp, shift, and stutter with Jamakee Blackburn's "thick guitar" and Chris Hess' "thin guitar". More like the sound of a group of raging bulls in a confined space than a collection of tuneful ditties, the impact is unequivocally heavy as hell. The guitar parts themselves are a joy to hear and come with a lot of chunk and acidity, as one would expect given the aforementioned influences. The time signatures buck and shift in a way that steers clear of the standard format, but are not nearly as insane as, for example, the classic works of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.

It is the vocals of James Savage that are the obvious high point of the disc. His surname is most appropriate for the thick, barking style and lyrical venom that spews out all over the place. There are more than a handful of visceral lines that you are sure to remember. Big, bad, and just plain pissed off, Savage gives new meaning to "face reddening vocals".

THE CAST PATTERN's debut offering will appeal to most fans of this abrasive style that falls somewhere between hardcore and metal (the term "metalcore" doesn't quite fit). The intensity is off the scale and while no new ground is broken, the attitude and spirit will bode well for the band on future releases. In short, I found the disc to be a decent listen, if not one that will make any year-end lists. I expect good things from the quintet. It's also worth noting that THE CAST PATTERN is an incredibly ferocious live act.