True to its down-to-earth themes, death metal’s most inaccessible force returns with the seditious Exhaust. This surprise album from Pyrrhon explores the societal decline of the United States using the metaphor of a car exhausting its fuel. But the quartet itself is far from running out of gas!
Pyrrhon has always been one of the most subversive avant-garde death metal bands, a niche that’s remote enough on its own. Too experimental to sell well on the notorious Relapse Records, the American quartet has nevertheless continued to push their art forward, fully assuming the very underground position they occupy in the extreme music ecosystem. With the sweat of their brow, these musicians explore the less obvious margins of complex and brutal death metal: repetitive sections reminiscent of Skinny Puppy’s industrial, slow, raw sections worthy of Swans and plenty of well-placed noise escapades give a very particular colour, verging on post-punk, noise rock and even free improvisation.
Yet it’s all meticulously woven together by unparalleled technical skill and boundless creativity, best appreciated with the right references in mind to situate Pyrrhon’s dissonant, angst-ridden aesthetic. Steve Schwegler’s drumming, here on his third opus with the band, is impeccable and even more impressive to watch live. Doug Moore’s vocal performance is also noteworthy, making frequent but well-balanced use of effects controlled from a vocal processor (delay, looper, flanger, various frequency filters).
Pyrrhon have always delivered original and interesting albums, but Exhaust is probably their best. The 50 minutes flow naturally and hold your attention right to the end. The heavy, rhythmic hooks are a good counterweight to the more abstract elements, the whole remaining seamless. A demanding but rewarding listen.
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