7 H.Target - Fast-Slow Demolition (2012; Coyote Records)

Wow, this is a good way to start off February. Welcome back, S-M devotees; here is the first great slam release of 2012. Russian Tetsuo-fanboys 7 H.Target are here to brutalize you with some intense and crazy brutal death metal featuring strong vocal offerings, a great snare tone and punishing slams delivered in a variety of ways.

This album pretty much wastes no time getting you acquainted with it other than by blowing straight out of the gates with a pinch-laden breakdown section featuring samples from their obvious favorite movie series. Big, meaty riffs are thrown down one after another before they decide to toss out all logic for a phasing drum segment and some Devourment-esque slam rolls. A funeral slam follows this section and almost seems to touch on incredibly slammy minimalism; I can safely say there's nothing like this album in the contemporary world of slam. Love the off-time slamming in the beginning of "Technosex"; this is the first part of the album where 7HT remind me greatly of Alienation Mental circa Ball Spouter, although there are way more coherent breakdowns on here and just a little less spazziness than those Czech psychos. About halfway through this song, there's some really Gorguts-ish craziness going on, and this band excels at deviating from the norm in a very similar way to those Canadians; Logan described this to me as sounding like the band was listening to the aforementioned band and Defeated Sanity at the same time while drunk and/or high and just being like "yep, this sounds awesome, let's record something like it", but it even hits a bit more straightforward at times, such as the rolling riffs and rhythms on "Metal + Flesh". This album just works, almost in spite of how much it feels ridiculous and over-the-top.

This is a crazy, awesome album. It's listenable over and over because of how intense and varied it is; the beginning of "Drill Penis" has some crazy fret-mangling guitar stuff and there are parts that just sound like insane techno-grind; while all the sections feel very different, they don't feel forced or jammed together unnecessarily. Almost everything on this album feels somehow organically connected, despite some sections seeming very separate. I appreciate the band's use of reverbed snare to hit "full stops" in songs, because continuity doesn't feel lost. There are even some really groovy slams which really hit hard and satisfy big time, but they generally don't last that long. Even though everything fits exceedingly well, it does feel like it has a bit of songwriting-ADD overall. It's incredibly enjoyable, though, in spite of its own ridiculousness. Perhaps the band members just realized this is amusing and fun shit and decided to make it sound as "serious" and "true" as possible, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Whatever the case, you should probably all be listening to and loving this. It's diverse, entertaining and progressive slam with lots of surprises. Great shit from the Motherland. Hope this year brings more our way.