CoC : + / - - + /

+ / - - _+ / -_
(Moon Records, 2008)
by: Quentin Kalis (6 out of 10)

Yes, their name really is "plus / minus". I know the unusual rhythms unambiguously locate them within the 'mathcore' school (sorry) but the name does drive the point home in a rather unsubtle manner. The major failing of this release is that the songs are too short and fragmentary, and as much as I enjoy their off-kilter rhythms, the combination of short songs and tangential approach results in five songs that have no identity and feel interchangeable with each other. Each musician does a great job, and the vocalist does everything from deep grind grunts through to in-your-face metalcore ranting. If they take three and a half minutes as the bottom and not upper limit for song length, this may allow songs to develop beyond a mishmash of unorthodox rhythms.

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/thepmmusic

(article published 30/9/2008)