Painkiller - Guts of A Virgin (1991)
Here's the first release from Zorn's Painkiller lineup. Him on sax and doing vocals this time around, Bill Laswell on bass, and former Napalm Death drummer/Scorn mastermind Mick Harris behind the kit, also delivering some gut wrenching vocals. This is similar to Naked City's jazz/grind output. But while that album veers into dozens of other styles almost constantly, this one stays with their consistently bass heavy, avant-jazz/grindcore, but also displays a lot of elements of doom/sludge metal. It slows down a bit throughout.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Zorn screams at the top of his lungs to kick this album into gear immediately, dunno what he says first, but I can make out "OH MY GOD!!!", and just like that, we're introduced to the doomy approach that Painkiller will often take. Considerably heavier than Naked City, thanks to Laswell's loud, distorted bass riffing and Harris's deathgrind drum style. He's seriously a monster at the kit, and always has been. "Portent" is a highlight of this album. Starting with a driving sludge riff that progressively speeds up to chaotic tempos after Zorn's sax is introduced, slows back down, and repeats the formula. This is full of awesome noise rock style bass lines that sound oh so nice when coupled with the heavy drumming and jazz.
While obviously not as diverse and frantic as
Naked City, this feels more focused and dare I say mature. They give you a groove and keep at it. This is some of the heaviest stuff to come from Zorn's discography. Would recommend to fans of sludgy noise rock and free jazz.