Although they calm things down a bit on the flip, Rape Faction, with tracks like “Vaporizer” — which really does seem to spring from the mist of a forbidden heat — challenge the notion that vocals are inherently focal and should stand out from the rest of the mix like a sore larynx. They bury their singer’s whisks of tone-dysfunctional, post-39 Clocks intonations (which also veer into more overtly emotional territory) in enough tone dust, fuzz, cloud, and bass to render them completely useless, but instead the opposite occurs: The cumulative effect of each element locked together forms a brick-solid core, and when the vocals occasionally do prairie-dog above the mix, it’s just another bonus.
It’s encouraging to hear rock perverted thusly; Gone Forever takes not a second for granted, yet within the urgency are small, crystal-cathedral moments where the blood bubbles back into the brain and the listener’s thoughts turn to where the proceedings will go next. Unerringly, they delve back into the sprawling dungeon-din described in the lead paragraph, though I neglected to mention the drums, a deep, pounding presence that resonates even when, as they do on “Kids on Dilauded,” the guitars drift into out-of-tune territory (probably the one place I’m hesitant to follow them to).
If the upper-crust of the underground — I suppose I’m thinking Gauntlet Hair, Woodsman, Ducktails, Blues Control — had as much creative juice in its coffers as Rape Faction do in theirs, it’s possible independent rock wouldn’t be in as much trouble as it seems to be in now when it comes to originality — rather than reproduction — ruling the nu school. There are times when it could be said Rape Faction dip their pens into the community ink, so to speak, and the drastic shifts from cut to cut, in volume, production, and content, speak to the random genius of a group that hasn’t quite found its true calling.
I’ve said it before of other groups, and I’ll say it again: Listening to them work out their kinks will be half the fun. Hopefully Rape Faction will take the time to do just that, as their foundation is, frankly, intimidating.
More about: Rape Faction
