once again big business have made an album that turns metal on its head. the band has pushed themselves further into unfamiliar territory by bringing a third member, guitarist toshi kasai into the fold. kasai helps disturb the back and forth between bassist jarred warren and drummer coady willis, and his wailing leads accentuate the already driving and thunderous music. while warren and willis remain the principal songwriters, kasai’s influence is easily heard: the band is no longer just a simple sludge-metal outfit, they’re drawing from a much wider range of musical influences that bring the theatricality of prog together with the blistering urgency of punk, all under a mighty heavy hailstorm of some excellent sludge riffs. uber-fans may be put off by willis’ clean vocals, but the fact that they sound like an odd choice make them all the more necessary for such an idiosyncratic act to remain true to themselves.
Filed under: Album Review , 2009, big business, coady willis, jarred warren, mind the drift, toshi kasai
