Infinite Waste: Ghost Town

Featuring members of Burning Monk and Apocryphon, Infinite Waste is an Oakland, CA based Grindcore band. Their new release, Ghost Town, is discordant and vicious, but the vocals stand out as being especially brutal. Matt Eiseman and Jamison Kester are both outrageously aggressive in their approach to singing, and they also play guitar and bass, respectively. Meanwhile, drummer Kevin Swartz maintains a furious pace, emulating the punk rock influences of his previous work in Burning Monk. Although Infinite Waste is more grind than punk, some songs have irresistably moshable riffs. Consumer Suicide is one such auditory assault, and the guitar work is outstanding. The lyrics are also a scathing condemnation of greed and materialism (what did you expect from a song titled "Consumer Suicide?), and indeed the lyrical content throughout the entire album is socio-political critique. The world is a fucked up place, and boy, are they pissed off.

The scope of Infinite Waste's grievances encompass worldwide problems, but also places the onus of responsibility on the individual. Mass corruption occurs when everyday people are indifferent. Although these themes define the album, the more introspective track Swallow The Sun injects some surreal darkness. Strategically placed in the middle of the album, this song introduces a slower, sludgier pace with poetic imagery, and prevents Ghost Town from becoming monotonous. Overall, this is a cohesive album with enough surprises thrown in to keep the listener on his toes, and it offers tantalizing possibilities for Infinite Waste to follow up with new material. Four stars out of five.

Burning Monk

Never before have I heard Stoner Metal juxtaposed with Hardcore Punk. However, the droning Stoner Metal riffs take a backseat to the relentless Punk Rock audio assault, and the result is a trippy hellride that transcends genres. The lyrics reveal a disturbing combination of hatred and humor. You don't know if you should rise up in  justified outrage or laugh in a drunken stupor. Why not do both? Their self-titled album would make a great soundtrack for a riot, a house party, or anything in between. The string instruments and percussion are the simple, catchy hooks with an aggressive conotation that we always expect from Punk Rock. Meanwhile, the heavy, sluggish Stoner Metal riffs are a flashback to early Black Sabbath, echoing the same overwhelming darkness that shrouded the seminal Metal of the 70's. The lyrics take  political stance without being preachy. Burning Monk makes it scathingly clear that the world is not inherently a very fair or safe place, but they take the bite off with a cheeky sense of humor and some kick ass melodies.

Burning Monk defies the stereotype of Punk Rock being boiled down to "We don't give a fuck! Oi Oi Oi!"  As a matter of fact, they seem to care deeply about many social issues, from the sketchy practices of the fast food industry, to mass corruption on a global scale. However, what they express doesn't seem to be concern so much as a scathing hatred. They're my kind of guys.

In a nutshell, they're politically charged Hardcore Punk with a heavy Stoner twist. Check 'em out on Reverbnation or Bandcamp.  Four stars outta five.