American Head Charge - The War of Art (Industrial Metal/Noise Metal)

"A Violent Reaction"

American Head Charge - The War of Art Music Review
By RipperEagle
Rating: 4.3

Chad Hanks and Cameron Heacock, the co-founders of American Head Charge, met in drug rehabilitation, and upon leaving, took their material out and formed a sextet which was signed to American Records, a Rick Rubin branch of Def Jam Records. With Rubin helming their debut in 2001, the effort is 16-songs in length and nearly reaches 68 minutes (67:49 to be exact). And NOTHING is off limits to the band: use of extraterritorial sounds are just as common as the drum pounding, the bass throbbing, the buzz saw guitars, and the screaming. It’s just that, to me, you could have cut it off at “Fall” and a very good album. Also, almost every track here uses a lot of breakdowns for samples, hence the length of the songs.

1. A Violent Reaction (5)
-Odd machine like intro leads into the onslaught: brilliant track sets the tone.
2. Pushing the Envelope (4)
-Just know that pushing envelopes and hate will “get off” singer Martin Cock
3. Song for the Suspect (5)
-Good bit of piano, and Cock becomes more melodic in the chorus for a change.
4. Never Get Caught (5)
-Use of samples is high: if you don’t remember the song name, listen to the last 1:45, as you will be consistently reminded of it until the fade out.
5. Self (4)
-Intensity is toned back a bit, and singing bounces from scream to sing and back.
6. Just so you Know (5)
-Most single worthy, singing is the norm: delivers this classic line, “So paint the window in front of my face, when you know damn well there’s no one behind it.”
7. Seamless (5)
-One of the most fascinating lead-ins for 32 seconds: a song about sex, so it seems.
8. Effigy 23 (5)
-A personal favorite of mine: compelling drum-guitar riff during the verses.
9. Americunt Evolving Into Useless Psychic Garbage (4)
-A lot of stuff on this album is weird, but this attempt at Death Metal takes the cake.
10. Shutdown (5)
-Long song with a lot of strange breakdowns, bass gets a lot of work during verses.
11. We Believe (4)
-Intro reminiscent of KMFDM: sung verses and screamed choruses.
12. Breath In, Bleed Out (4)
-Takes a while to get out of the gates, very up and down number.
13. Fall (5)
-Scratch guitar intro gives way to the only other radio friendly song, aside from #5.
14. Reach and Touch (3)
-A solid number in parts, but it just sounds played out half way through.
15. All Wrapped Up (3)
-The musicianship is great, but the singing over the verses kills it for me.
16. Nothing Gets Nothing (2)
-I don’t even know what this is supposed to be: should have listened to me.

Comments and thoughts welcome.

Looks like the album doesn't finish strong....that's something I like in an album is a strong finish...

That is why I said in the intro prior to breaking it down track by track, they should have stopped with "Fall" and I guarantee you it turns up AT LEAST a 4.6, probably a 4.7

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