FIRE IN THE HEAD/RICHARD RAMIREZ - split
Review from industrial.org:
This split release between long standing noisemonger Richard Ramirez
and newer group Fire In The Head is the first release from Head leader
Michael Page's new label, Audio Immolation Industries. The disc is professionally
printed and packed in a thin plastic sleeve and insert with really nice
artwork and a generally overall pro look. Both bands serve up three tracks,
with the end result clocking in at about 25 minutes.
I've started how I feel about Ramirez's musical approach in the past,
and my feelings are basically the same here. While I can appreciate the
density and the brutal low end crunch of the tracks, the monotonous nature
of them just isn't my thing. It's pretty similar to other Ramirez stuff
i've heard in the past, except that I can make out more hints of a drum
machine buried under the wall of noise occasionally. I respect it, but
it just isn't my cup of semen.
The Fire In The Head portion of the disc is a completely different story.
I fucking love this shit. Page is able to really breathe in new life to
the old power electronics sound, blending in tons of textures and adding
real depth to it. His vocals here are great, even better than the ones
on the other record of his I have. These are some of the most effective
talking into distortion vocals I've ever heard. He doesn't sound bored
or overtly goofy, and he doesn't lay the psycho persona on too thick.
No, his vocals paint the image of a genuine psychopath, and it's an extremely
refreshing thing to hear.
This is definitely worth getting for the FITH tracks alone, but I gotta
say I wish it were a solo ep instead of a split.
FIRE IN THE HEAD/RICHARD RAMIREZ - split
review from Absolute
Zero Media:
I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but all this hype with Richard
Ramirez and I never heard more than a handful of Ramirez tracks that have
ever more than just interested me. This is more of the same static noise
with a few moments of dark industrial and harsher drones. 3 tracks very
similar and nothing all that special. Now for Fire In The Head we have
a very different creature. FITH is one of the most original and interesting
of all the power electronic bands out there. Remember when bands like
Sutcliffe Jugend, NTT and Slogun came onto the scene? This is the same
vibe I’m getting here. Fire In The Head along with Sickness are
the current US power electronic leaders to me. The layers and tones, the
tortured vocals and the over all madness of it all is just more than mere
words could ever tell you. I have not heard a bad track from FITH yet.
The mix of neoclassical, harsh noise and PE will always get my interest.
These guys need to be in contact with CMI, Cold Spring or maybe if they’re
lucky they can get themselves on Tesco and become huge in the genre.
FIRE IN THE HEAD/RICHARD RAMIREZ - split
review from Worm
Gear:
This is a 6 track split CDR, with each project offering 3 a piece. Richard
Ramirez has been a pillar of the US Noise scene for well over a decade
now and has remained consistently interesting in his output. His three
tracks, all called "Legion" with each being a different version
I-III. The first incarnation is a dense wall of jagged static like frequencies
and underlying sub bass drift. It doesn't really alter from that constant
barrage, but at just over 3 minutes the intensity is maintained. Version
II grows directly from this and pretty much stays the course for the first
minute or so and then wells up into slowly shifting feedback yowls and
electric hums. This slightly subdued passage gives way again to violent,
scuttering noise and dense distortions with a constricted and choked quality
to the ragged edges. The final version blends with the one preceding it
alternating between the confined bite and a looser roar. The three movements
total around 13 minutes, and showcase a great clarity to the sounds and
steady shift in dynamic. Fire In The Head opens with "Sewn
Shut" an ugly gurgling track of biting feedback and dense electronics
with an off kilter but vibrant intensity. The vocals are delivered in
a
seething spoken style and held low in the mix. "Fear Becomes Complacency"
is next and becomes in stark contrast to the previous track, with slow
swelling synth tones as the sputtering electronics build to a spitting
mass. The synth work remains intact throughout and provides a nice tonal
bed for the chaos to rest upon. It's a juxtaposition that works really
well. "One Last Breath" ends the disc and fades into a heaving
wall of heavy electronics and distant barked vocals. Really nice work
from both here with a diversity of sound and style, and some really great
sonics. Definitely a keeper.
- Scott
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