Harmful - Sanguine (CD)

All Music Guide

The veteran Austrian punk metal outfit Harmful understand something that their American counterparts forgot a long time ago, that in order to be effective, in order for music to have an impact on the listener, one has to possess in equal measure: energy, attitude, and the ability to create something memorable. Harmful are fine songwriters. Their attack is aggressive, intense, visceral and at times, offensivejust look at the record cove and saturated in hooks. Sanguine is the most full realized effort yet from this fine trio who take their guitar sound equally from Husker Du and the best doom metal bands. There are twelve tracks that all circle around the penultimate themes of alienation, rage, cultural indictment of hypocrisy, dislocation and, of course, desire: to destroy, to stand apart, to find a community, a pack of wolves with similar minds. Why Harmful aren't megastars is a mystery: just check the devastating heaviness in their hooks in tracks such as "Overfed," or the pure crunc...h and burn in "1 lifetime." But nothing quite prepares the listener for punishing drum and guitar overload of "Deliverance," where the buzz saws and turbines roar across the desperation and deserted heart chamber in Aren Emirze's lyrics and hunted voice. This is great stuff; and the best argument ever for a label to stick with a band while mature. Highly recommended. - Thom Jurek, All Music Guide Read more Less