STOMACH
STOMACH "Parasite"
By Dr. Abner Mality
In my professional opinion, we got a really bad bleeding ulcer infesting this STOMACH. I mean, the pain is so bad that you can feel it yourself. And that seems to be exactly the way this band wants it.
STOMACH is the latest project of John Hoffman, best known for the ultra-heavy hardcore band WEEKEND NACHOS. It's a small distance from a plate of nachos to a stomach, but there's more going on here. STOMACH makes the NACHOS sound like ESKIMO CALLBOY.. This is some miserable sludgy noise designed for maximum discomfort, on a level with horror mongers such as PRIMITIVE MAN and BODY VOID. I'd say at least 1/3 of the album consists of nothing but teeth-grating feedback, especially on 'Tooth Decay" and "Stomach". I'm sure the squealing noise is meant to create a feeling of unease...and it does...but there's just a certain point when it reaches the level of "turn the fucking thing off" and that point is reached several times here.
Elsewhere, there’s ultra-heavy sonic sludge like the heaviest ELECTRIC WIZARD and CONAN ... this side of STOMACH is pretty skull-crushing. In particular, parts of "Crawlspace" (Loom Ext) and "Double Lung Transplant" are grindingly effective at creating death-like plod. I don't know what Hoffman's fascination with medical terminology and body parts is...he's kinda horning in on my gimmick there...but his bull-like bellows fit the project well.
Mixed bag on "Parasite". STOMACH delivers what they set out to, but whether people can take it is another issue.