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Beasts Among Sheep
Javelina
Reviewed by: Ben Sailer [Fri, January 08, 2010 @ 8:39:41 PM]
Building upon the abrasive foundation laid by their self-titled debut, Javelina’s sophomore LP Beasts Among Sheep rolls along in a similarly uncomplicated, uncompromising and uncomfortable fashion. Burly, metallic guitars, turn-on-a-dime tempo shifts and throat-lacerating screams are all well accounted for here, and while the record is by no means revolutionary, it finds a formula that works and sticks to it.
The results aren’t pretty. A mix of punk, thrash and stoner sludge, Beasts Among Sheep ditches subtlety in favor of straight forward, mean-spirited brutality. While Javelina’s sound is often lacking in melody, they compensate with thick grooves and consistent pacing. Songs frequently blast along with steady drop-tuned riffage before locking into powerful half-time grooves (“The Nuclear Option,“ “Beware The Wrath Of The Patient Man”), or throwing in shredding lead guitar flourishes (“A Little Paranoia,” “Stepchild“). For the most part, however, Javelina’s modus operandi here is to keep things simple and heavy, playing to their strengths without a lot of flash.
Javelina’s unpolished approach isn’t likely to garner them any magazine covers or spots on major package tours, but regardless, Beasts Among Sheep shouldn’t have much trouble finding a niche somewhere amongst the bearded metal crowd. It doesn’t score points for experimentation or originality, but it doesn’t pander to trends or critical expectations either, and that much is worth something in itself.
7 out of 10
RIYL: High On Fire, Torche or Motorhead
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