I heard people raving about Meat Wave for a while before I finally saw the band a few years ago. But I still hadn’t really checked out their recorded material and I wasn’t sure how the band’s powerful set would translate to the at-home experience. Many bands with a raw concert experience struggle to set that same tone to tape. I’m pleased to say that Malign Hex met my lofty expectations.
There’s a lot going on with this record. It’s abrasive, but sometimes catchy. It’s heavy, but sometimes dynamic. It’s arty, but never pretentious. It’s raw, intense, carefully composed noise-punk. At different times in different songs I’d make comparisons to the Jesus Lizard and STNNNG, but also Talking Heads and Rocket From The Crypt. The old Touch & Go and Am Rep catalogs are the more dominant inspiration, but there is both an underlying current of guitar rock and art-rock too, which I didn’t pick up quite as much when I saw them live. In fact, hearing news of this record, the partnership with Swami Records seemed a little out there until I sat down and experienced this LP.
The record begins by setting the spike and then bringing the hammer down. Lyrics like “If anyone ever asks you to choke your own neck/ Put your hand on theirs instead/ Until the veins bulge from their head” set the tone quickly. And that’s only one snippet of the anger spewing forth in the opening “Disney.” But the mood shifts continuously throughout the 10 songs. “Ridiculous Car” brings that Swami guitar groove into play, and the next song, “What Would You Like Me To Do,” adds shiftier math rock elements countered with some anti-pop melody. I’d describe “Merchandise Mart” as strobe light punk: it’s equally predictable and terrifying and you just might end up on the floor. Later, “Jim’s Teeth” feels like an album closer from a post-punk band. It’s slow and exploratory…but the bouncy rhythm section keeps the energy moving even as the tone gets darker. Following that track, the record closes on “Malign.” This song definitely sounds “arty,” but never indulgent. It’s totally exploring new terrain, but it’s still only 3:24. The band isn’t asking you, the listener, to deconstruct a genre or composition. They’re using angular riffs and seismic movements for impact. As a whole, Malign Hex balances the chaos of post-hardcore, the alienation of post-punk, and the raw energy of punk.
The record may not be as sweaty as the live show, but it maintains a powerful flow that hits hard, but also makes it easier to pick up the little details that separate Meat Wave from other groups. It’s hard to miss the hammer-swinging aggression, but this recording also captures those finer nuances that bring it all together.
