THE MASS „“Holocene # 6” EP”

Music: Thrash/Avant-Garde Metal
Country: USA
Web site: www.themass.us
Cool Songs: Ilirska Bistrica, Human Shield

“Holcene # 6” is the second EP and fourth overall album by THE MASS. This northern California four-piece has a knack for creating artful, avant-garde music. The artwork relates a band with artistic ambitions, depicting various, out-of-place-caricature appendages. A frightened, naked and frail being seems to be devouring the brains of the giant looming below, but is also held in bondage to this giant. Jon Wayshak’s odd illustrations adorning the cover and the insert are part Salvador Dali and part Tim Burton. THE MASS also labels their songs with an abstract quality such as “Trbovlje” and “Ilirska Bistrica” The album title does not convey a very familiar pair of words, either. These strange words and phrases give a surface-glimpse of what lies within the music.

The first moments of “Holocene #6” communicates nothing out of the ordinary. The music moves at a mid-paced groove narrated by post-hardcore screams. This early section may lead one to believe they are just another post-hardcore band with thrashing grooves. However, a couple minutes into “Trbovlje,” they pull their ace card in the form of a saxophone.

Saxophone is a rare instrument in metal, but THE MASS is not the first group to utilize this instrument. John Zorn is the first artist that comes to mind for using the sax. Unlike PAINKILLER, MR. BUNGLE, and other projects Zorn has lent his spastic brass, THE MASS primarily uses their sax for rhythmic purposes, at least not moving at the lung-explosive speed of Zorn. They do, though, go off on a bit of a tangent at the end of “Ilirska Bistrica.” Here, the group wanders off into a jam, alternating wailing guitar solos with screeching saxophone leads.

Another artsy aspect of THE MASS comes during experimental sections such as the ending of “Ilirska Bistrica.” After a prolonged jam session, the group attacks the listener’s ears with an abrupt scratching noise, like a cross between electrical interference and a needle scratching a record. Off-the-wall moments are mostly contained to the above track, but the group does present a technical side with their conventional metal instruments that could be considered artful. “Fat Cobra” and “Human Shield” feature a number of directional and time changes. And of course, there is the interplay between guitar and saxophone.

Because THE MASS employs a saxophone and some noisy experimentation, they might be viewed as simply an avant-garde band. These elements mostly serve to accentuate their memorable grooves and intricate instrumental play. However, the band’s wiliness to try new things does help bring something special, and they pull off this perspective without making their music too abstract to understand or annoyingly pretentious.

note: 7/10

Tracklist

1. Trbovlje
2. Human Shield
3. Fat Cobra
4. Ilirska Bistrica
Total Playing Time: 24:04

Line-up

Matt Waters – Vocals, Saxophone
Matthew Solberg – Bass
Tom O'Donnell – Guitar
Tyler Cox – Drums