https://rhododendronpdx.bandcamp.com/album/protozoan-battle-hymns
Genre: Metal
Rating: 4/5
released on bandcamp May 14, 2021
First off, straight up, this would be a free and clear 5/5 except for the high end is severely muted on the recording. Even on the bandcamp page the ten already sold cassettes are advertised as normal bias. Fuck that. Dolby off. High bias. Jesus.
Besides that this music branches from the trees of Slint, Gorguts, and King Crimson. And to be honest, they don’t have Gorguts or King Crimson chops but they make up for it with a Spiderland type of ambiance. It’s youthful magic. Good chemistry. The right weed. Time and space. Teamwork. Practice. A butterfly flapping in Kyoto.
The album really flips to the next level on the Hieronymus Bosch homage Garden of Earthly Delights. They did the right things. Cool sounds. Cool everything.
My cynicism bets this is a one off but if they can build on this watch the fuck out.
Warmth Highest 