Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

Let me preface this review by saying that prior to writing this, I never would have believed that I'd have anything positive to say about a grindcore album. I've made quite a few attempts to get into the genre in the past, and every time I've failed to hear anything else but noise. While this album;Dirge is the definition of noise, it's also hectic and chaotic atmosphere makes for an adrenaline pumping and mosh pit starting experience.

There's not a ton I can write about this album, and it's hard to do a track for track breakdown as there's only a handful of songs that are over the one minute mark in length. In total, the album contains 25 cuts, but the runtime is only a mere 19 minutes. I don't have much to compare it to in terms of other grindcore albums, as the only other full albums I've ever listened to are Scum and Apex Predator by Napalm Death, both of which I did not enjoy at the time. The only thing I would have liked to see a bit more of on the project is some more variety in the composition, as not much holds the songs back from sounding like one 19 minute track.

I struggle to pinpoint what it is the separates Wormrot from Napalm Death, who are one of the most popular and critically acclaimed bands in the genre. Perhaps it's simply that my tolerance, and my ability to enjoy loud, angry, frantic music has increased, or perhaps I simply just like it more. Regardless of the reasoning, it has completely changed my perception on the sound, and I have a new found interest in hearing more. It certainly has it's time and place, as it isn't exactly the first album I'd throw on while with coworkers, or visiting my grandmother, but when you need an album chalked full of hatred, anger, and all out chaos, I definitely recommend checking out Dirge.

Rating: 7/10


Also just a note, I've decided against doing Jazz reviews at the moment because, well, I don't feel like it. However, I've added a few new genres for recs in the OP.