Gaza

Every now and then, a band come along that can just blow you away with a single riff, and Salt Lake City, Utah's Gaza are one such group. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better or angrier after their 2009 release, He Is Never Coming Back, the band surpass expectations with their highly anticipated third album, No Absolutes in Human Suffering. Recorded by Converge's Kurt Ballou and combining elements of hardcore, grind and sludge into a sound that's completely their own, Gaza have further refined their musical approach, taking it to the next level while maintaining their heavy, dissonant style. Opener "Mostly Hair and Bones Now" seethes with misery and despair, unpredictable guitar work and intense, suffocating grooves, while "Not With All the Hope in the World" features an unrelentingly dark atmosphere. Throughout No Absolutes in Human Suffering, Gaza employs deeply honest lyrical content that challenges religion and the socio-political status quo, culminating in the title track, which is a slow and steady dirge that takes hold and never loosens its grip as the doom and gloom of the repetitive lyrics sink in. It's a perfect album in every sense and Gaza have once again set a high standard for raw, thought-provoking aggressive music.