CoC : His Hero Is Gone - Monuments to Thieves : Review

His Hero Is Gone - _Monuments to Thieves_
(Prank, 1997)
by: Henry Akeley (9 out of 10)

Here we have another specimen from the crustier stratum of subterranea. Unlike the Disfear record reviewed up above, however, this one stirs that scab-caked, abrasive vibe into a molten mixture brimming with weighty chunks of heavy, intelligent hardcore and very adept grind. And the result is no dilution: this band melds the strongest traits of all those styles, and a good bit of punishing slo-core besides, into an utterly mighty, totally distinctive overall sound. Much the same could be said of their earlier releases (a self-titled 7-inch and the _Fifteen Counts of Arson_ full-length), but _Monuments_ has a more articulate and individual sound -- it's one very eloquent slab of brutality. The band's earlier releases are also incredibly powerful, but they come across (at least to me) as a bit of a stylistic patchwork. Now, on the other hand, the sound has matured; everything congeals into a crushing storm of sound, thundering with percussive weight and crackling with killer breaks, precise stabs of grind, and ragged shards of anguished, abstract melody. You know, I get the feeling that I've used all these metaphors before, many times perhaps, but I've written so many reviews by now that I've lost all track... Anyway, you'll find no tired rehash of the same old formulae in this band's music. Seriously, even though it's only 25 minutes in length, this is one of the most powerfully expressive yet unrelentingly brutal recordings I've ever had the pleasure to hear. Very strongly recommended.

(article published 13/4/1998)

ALBUMS
8/12/1997	S Hoeltzel	8	His Hero Is Gone - Fifteen Counts of Arson

GIGS
8/12/1999	A Wasylyk	His Hero Is Gone	Did You Ever Know That You're My Hero?