Third Degree – Outstay
Selfmadegod Records – SMG 018 – July 7th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
I know this probably
looks like the most unappealing album ever, due to the
ugly cover art, but really it’s pretty good. Thirty-five minutes of
Napalm Death-like grindcore is what
Third Degree play, and some of you may recognize Selfmadegod Records with them having re-released
Antigama’s Discomfort in the year of our Lord 2005. Concerning
Outstay, though, the formerly mentioned is leagues above decent and I must confess that I like it the more I listen to it, despite its apparent shunning of originality.
Thirteen grind songs can’t be wrong, and that’s what
Outstay has to present. And, mostly, the band’s attributes are facilely explainable. The compositions aren’t radically different from one another, which is probably either good or bad with no room in between, and the production makes the instrumentation – especially the drums – sound quite thunderous. Interestingly enough,
Third Degree have a propensity for echoing both
Meshuggah (“Why Are They Not Coming?”) and latter-day
Living Sacrifice (“No Forgiveness”), but more often than not
Napalm Death peek out from under
Outstay’s sheets. Since the group fancies grindcore, it follows that the tunes are concise in their length, though liberal in their amount of fury. Overall, one shouldn’t have any trouble deciphering the quintet’s talents due, in part, to the musicianship, and a handful of riffs, beats, and rhythms radiate a ferocity that was expertly calculated.
In comparison to their contemporaries, these blokes aren’t reinventing anything with
Outstay. But, in contrast, Poland’s
Third Degree know what they’re doing, and this sophomore full-length is a succinct look at modern grindcore. I won’t advocate running out – like a maniac – and purchasing this at full price. However, fans of the subgenre will have no qualms about scooting up next to these guys, if and when the situation calls for it. As for now, I wouldn’t mind getting the
Third Degree occasionally.
7.5/10
Official Third Degree Website
Official Selfmadegod Records Website
