Seotaiji "Seotaiji VI" (2000)

 

Having scraped the barrel of Nu Metal treasures from my youth, this recent surge of revivalist bands like Tetrarch, Ocean Grove and Narrow Head has brought about nostalgia tinged fun. Nothing will ever capture the tone and texture of that millennial moment quite like the original artists. Thus its a blessing to find such an authentic and fresh take of those times. Hailing from the other side of the globe, Korea, this platinum selling record remained a complete unknown if not for one peculiarity. Tank and a couple other tacks gave me the tremors, a sudden transformation to my teenage self. A dormant part of my mind activated again, I wondered where had I heard this before?

When Napster first emerged there was a trend to rename obscure artists with similarities as "rare tracks" or "b sides". Over the years, I'd eventually learn who the original bands were. Tank, probably renamed as Korn, was one of those. Although it feels uncanny now, this is a reflection of our ever connected, ever available world of culture, shrinking rapidly, as algorithms figure us out, resurfacing these lost gems.

Reveling in the Nu Metal spirit, producer and songwriter Seo Taiji captures the essence of a predominantly American scene with little suggestion to cultural or geographic distance. Only his Korean words create a distinction. Even on that front, his throaty screams and bursts of Rap and rhyme snuggly fit the manic texture and angered cadence of the scene. With an arsenal of bouncy riffs and well written songs, he delivers an all killer, no filler record clocking in at a "to the point" thirty minutes.

Where this record excels is with its textures. So often do these songs revel in the atypical aesthetics of Nu Metal. Estranged sampling, sporadic vinyl scratches, effects laden guitars and quirky vocal effects. With a touch of Alternative Metal it all shapes up to an exciting yet fresh familiarity. Even its shameless plundering of early Korn-alike riffs play with charm. Seotaiji VI is a work of love and inspiration for the times.

Rating: 7/10

Inlayer "Sequence" (2015)

Its exciting to hear when Metal reaches new parts of the world and Inlayer are the first band from South Korea Ive heard off. Whats even more exciting is the music, their single "MINDJACK" for a presumed forthcoming album blew me away, possibly one of the best songs I'll hear all year along with Babymetal's "The One". Sequence is a four track EP and the only other music I could find by the Korean band. Released last year it is a step down in production value from the new single which appears to be on a major K-Pop label.

The four piece perform as an instrumental force, playing technical, fast tempo Djent grooves and polyrhythmic signatures with a side lavishing of illustrious reverb laden acoustics, much to the trend of the international scene. Inlayer don't have a lot to distinguish themselves with and can often sound like Animals As Leaders and other Prog Metal bands, however what they do have is quality and a singular trick that seems to find itself in the songs best moments. The hammer on! At many points a hammered on lead will rattle away glorious waves of sweeping colors through fast electric melodies over the rhythmic Djent grooves. Not the most original technique but there is something captivating when they do it.

The first three tracks jam out a fest of color and groove while the final track gets a little experimental with some Post-Metal sounds and steady guitar solos to lead the EP into its climactic groove. It all sounds exciting and energetic but some of this is lost the rawer mix. Where the drums would clearly aid from fidelity it falls a little flat in the recording. All the kicks, snare and cymbals sound flat and as if in a different dimension to the rest of the instruments. Its a shame as the drums themselves are energizing and full of life however this flat recording tone sucks some of that away. Very solid debut but "MINDJACK" has set the bar high for their next release which I am eagerly awaiting.

Favorite Track: Unfine

Rating: 5/10