By: Berns von Bernington
P.L.F.: facebook
Released on April 24, 2014 via Blastasfuk Records
When I listen to grindcore bands I expect a certain level of anger towards something and I tend to feed of those emotions in the music. It could be anything from politics, misanthropy, heartbreak, sorrow and whatever, but that realness has to be there in the music. Something that says shit, these guys are fucking angry about something and they’re expressing themselves in a way I can identify with.
I spend a lot of time seeking out bands that have this means of expression through a music sub-genre that doesn’t really speak to the masses, but neither does universal truth and I comfort myself with that. Off the top of my head I can name a few bands that hit the sweet spot when it comes to this kind of expression. Bands such as Death Toll 80K, Insect Warfare, Chiens, Nasum and the list can go on and on.
So, this is a bit late, but I got kind of sucked into Pretty Little Flower a while back, which blew my mind, but their Ultimate Whirlwind of Incineration felt it was lacking for the most part. It was kind of soulless and emotionless. This being said, I take nothing away from the band when it comes to their ability to play their instruments better than most or their ability to play at speeds. Which kind of makes you feel inept as musician. I myself get pretty annoyed with people who say that all grind sounds the same, but in this case, this is what I am feeling from their latest release. It’s a monotone mish mash of discontent, which sounds like it was recorded in the most soulless and emotionless way possible. Sure, they’re incredible musicians, but fucking hell, this is almost robot-like in my opinion.
I have not been this disappointed in a release since Pig Destroyer’s last record, which was an average death metal record at best. This being said, this isn’t as bad as that record, but it is lacking in my opinion and well, that’s just an opinion of some guy who really likes grindcore. I just didn’t feel this record at all, but it is fast and it yeah sure it is mind blowing, but it’s just lacking that final punch and personality that I so desperately was looking for throughout the record in its entirety. This could also be contributed to the various line-up changes the band has experienced over the last couple of years.
Pretty Little Flower’s Ultimate Whirlwind of Incineration just didn’t do it for me. I hope later on it will click for me at some sort of level.
