Customer Reviews

Face of Collapse

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

And I thought that Calculating Infinity was head and shoulders above everyone else in the instrumental perspective when it comes to hardcore music (and it still is).

This is the sum of what happens when jazz students who know a whole lot about improv manage to tackle the math rock spectrum made well known by the likes of Blind Idiot God and Slint, topping it off with a hardcore spirit that still sounds as refreshing as it did when it was released all these years ago. The guitars drive this forward with high regards to not only free jazz, but as well as a tiny bit of progressive rock as well. Future The Mars Volta drummer Blake Flemming also does the drumming here, and unsurprisingly, it shines throughout.

While the band was short lived and disbanded a year after this was released, this is still a phenomenal release displaying how the utilization of a certain background for another style of music can manage to make some impressive music that would be a future inspiration for many. Absolutely recommended for those that love the abrasion of hardcore but also admire it performed by superbly talented people.

This album was recorded in 1993. I bought the CD 2 years ago or so and I was amazed. Amazed by the music, some very complex and (still) very original punk hardcore (but if it is complex, is it still punk ?), or something that sounds like punk hardcore. Amazed also that I never heard of this album before. Ok, hardcore has never been a popular genre. But when it is that good, it deserves to be known outside the circles of underground music. How to describe the music ? It's vicious, it's full of rage, but the music itself is difficult to describe. I don't see any comparison, maybe in free jazz or contemporary classical music, I don't know ...

it's hard to believe that this record is over 10 years old! and what's even more amazing is that it still stands head and shoulders above all these technical mathy rock bands that seem to crop up every thirty seconds these days.

the songs on this record are relentless and savage, yet with all the raw crazed energy, these guys can play. the music is intense and frighteningly tight. it's like the technical aspects of prog rock bands like King Crimson or Yes have been anally violated and have become bitter and very very mean. but with all the time changes and stop on a dime pauses, Dazzling Killmen never really veer into a cold unfeeling territory inhabited by bands like Dillenger Escape Plan or Don Cabellero. the vocals on this record are sung from a very disturbing perspective on life. you can almost feel the sweat and spit and bile being flung around the studio as the vocals were laid down.

Face Of Collapse is an unstoppable juggernaut of an album that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go until it has drained every drop of blood from your worthless body.

it's beyond math rock, beyond metal, beyond technical...beyond sanity.

There has been a lot of hype lately about hard core "math rock" bands. I won't list them (you can look them up) but Dazzling Killmen make these prog rock, nu metal, math rockers sound like beginner garage bands. It is really too bad that this band isn't around anymore. I saw them in St. Louis shortly after Face of Collapse came out. It was amazing to hear them perform these songs on stage. I bought the CD from the band immediately after the show. So before you spend another dime on any new "hardcore" record, do yourself a favor and get this CD.

They also have a compilation CD of their earlier recorded material. It isn't as good as Face but it does have some good music and an amusing radio promo spot, grade schoolers at the radio station shouting "Dazzling Killmen! they Kill!"

the killmen will challenge, confuse and scare the hell out of you with their finest and last release! be prepared as you collapse into the dark, abrasive world of this now defunct metal/punk quartet. stop-on-a-dime rhythms and interspersed head bobbing grooves combined with jazz sensibilities make this one of the most interesting listens from the '90's! - check out Collosomite and You! Fantastic to see where these madmen are heading.

Have you ever been surfing/bodyboarding on the beach, when there were some really large waves coming in... and it gets to the point where the wave comes crashing over your head... and you just tumble and fall and tumble and fall over and over again, and the concussions come all over your body from every side... and just when you think it's over, and there is calm, it comes back and hits you again? Imagine that, set to music. absolutely f-ing amazing.