Nasum

Human 2.0

Extremity, thy name is Nasum

Review Score:

(8/10)
*If I could, I'd give this album 4.5 stars

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: no matter how much music I listen to, nothing beats a good, balls-out metal album. For all those who feel the same way, Nasum have delivered the goods with one of the heaviest, grooviest albums in the history of mankind. If you've ever had an overpowering urge to hear 25 consecutive tracks of grinding, thrashing agony, then "Human 2.0" is the album for you. This is one of those albums that revolutionize the very idea of just how extreme music can be. Nasum don't boast as much diversity or creativity as labelmates like the Dillinger Escape Plan, Soilent Green, or Burnt By The Sun, but they more than make up for it with an unbridled intensity that will floor even the most experienced musical extremists on first listen.

Although it's technically flawless, "Human 2.0" is still a serious contender for the title of least pretentious album in history: these songs contain no embellishments, no self-indulgent wankery, and above all no wasted moments. Nasum's musical onslaught can best be described as the equivalent of having a nail driven directly into your forehead by a sledgehammer. Every single instant here is directed solely at pummeling the listener's eardrums in the harshest, most efficient manner humanly possible. The track lengths are listed in fractions of a second for a reason.

With running times ranging from 19 seconds to just shy of three minutes, the tracks on "Human 2.0" bleed into each other, coalescing into a whole so cohesive that if you didn't look at your CD player you might think you were listening to one 38-minute long song. From note one, Nasum take off at breakneck speed, churning out a nonstop procession of riffs from hell, drumming that is beyond maniacal, and vocals so pulverizing they make most metal vocalists sound like a bad high-school glee club. It's not just about speed, either, as the band can hit you out of nowhere with tempo and vocal changes so jarring they practically induce spasms. "We're Nothing But Pawns," "Sick System," "Old And Tired," and "Sometimes Dead Is Better" are clinics in vocal trading, as Mieszko Talarczyk's high-pitched shrieks intertwine with Anders Jakobson's death-metalesque growls for a dynamic that few bands can match. What's most impressive, though, is the matchless groove these guys manage to summon up. Mieszko comes up with an endless succession of fearsome main riffs that make my eyes water, my head pound, and my neck hurt from relentless banging. Go ahead, find a song here that doesn't make you want to start a mosh pit. I dare you.

All in all, "Human 2.0" is an excellent addition to the grindcore genre, and yet another reason that right now is a good time to be a metal fan. Relapse Records has become renowned over the past few years for producing some of extreme music's best bands, and Nasum only serve to solidify that reputation. For those who want an intense listening experience, this album gets my highest recommendation. Just be sure to crank it up nice and loud so the neighbors can hear it.

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