Russ Hockenbury
06/26/06, 10:52 AM
Chris Owens is one badass dude. A fellow Louisvillian, I have to admit that I’ve never met the talented axe behind Jade Tree’s Lords. Ask just about anyone in the hardcore/metal community about Owens though and they’ll likely rave not only about his talent plugged in, but also of his ability to successfully manipulate the work of others. Such is the case with Reproach, on which he helped Syracuse, NY’s Engineer to craft what can only be described as the closest thing to the soundtrack for eternal damnation that any mortal band has ever created.
Up to this point, Engineer had been most notable for releasing an EP on the same small label (Four Leaf) that launched From First to Last. Those expecting a similar style from the release by Engineer had to pop their eyes back into their eyeliner-heavy sockets, as Suffocation of the Artisan succeeded in its main goal of being so-damn-loud it made Headbanger’s Ball look like Masterpiece Theatre. The band’s first full length, Reproach sets the New Yorkers’ guitars back to “obliterate” two years post that EP.
Now on Hex (Inkling, Ed Gein), Engineer is poised to take over the metal world with their brand of calculated chaos-core. “Calculated” because although the band still aims to pummel, they do so with a more layered effect than was present on Suffocation of the Artisan. Even metal bands mature.
Additionally, forgive the pun, but there’s something that screams working class about Engineer. Heavy riff after heavy riff, tribal drum beat after tribal drum beat; the boys do their thing without the excessive pageantry of a lot of their peers on more glamorous labels. The result isn’t pretty, but it was never supposed to be.
Put your teeth on the curb and bite: “Heel Toe”, “Heavy Drag”
Some bands would give their left: Knut, Coliseum, The Melvins
Up to this point, Engineer had been most notable for releasing an EP on the same small label (Four Leaf) that launched From First to Last. Those expecting a similar style from the release by Engineer had to pop their eyes back into their eyeliner-heavy sockets, as Suffocation of the Artisan succeeded in its main goal of being so-damn-loud it made Headbanger’s Ball look like Masterpiece Theatre. The band’s first full length, Reproach sets the New Yorkers’ guitars back to “obliterate” two years post that EP.
Now on Hex (Inkling, Ed Gein), Engineer is poised to take over the metal world with their brand of calculated chaos-core. “Calculated” because although the band still aims to pummel, they do so with a more layered effect than was present on Suffocation of the Artisan. Even metal bands mature.
Additionally, forgive the pun, but there’s something that screams working class about Engineer. Heavy riff after heavy riff, tribal drum beat after tribal drum beat; the boys do their thing without the excessive pageantry of a lot of their peers on more glamorous labels. The result isn’t pretty, but it was never supposed to be.
Put your teeth on the curb and bite: “Heel Toe”, “Heavy Drag”
Some bands would give their left: Knut, Coliseum, The Melvins