Buzzov*en

Extreme music fans could spend an eternity arguing over whether or not North Carolina's Buzzov*en reached their apex with 1994 sophomore full-length Sore. No matter what side you sit on, it's impossible to deny the impact it, and its creators, had on the future of girth-y doom/sludge metal. That sentiment is echoed on this modest collection dubbed Violence From The Vault, in honour of 2005 release Welcome To Violence, which compiled their best work prior to Sore. To that extent, Violence From The Vault features five previously unreleased tunes recorded by said line-up circa 1995. Unsurprisingly, each moment of this affair forces one question offset with a plethora of sub-queries: why? Why would this band not receive their due recognition? Why would these songs not see an official release for 15 years? It goes on but suffice to say that each track touches upon everything one would expect from Buzzov*en. Songs range from three-plus minutes of rumbling grunt to 14-minute bouts of experimental noise. They ravage via the droning fuzz of lead track "Mainline" through to the pummelling pace and upbeat attitude of "Paintake," sample-heavy grind of "Breed," mechanical tinkering/feedback wallow of "Nod" and hardcore thrust of closer "I Never." Beautifully obtuse and indelibly esoteric, this is one bout of violence that's decidedly welcome.