Power violence can be a bit repetitive. This sub-strain of hardcore tends to wear on the listener, bludgeoning them with its high speed and intensity until they succumb to its velocity. This is not the case with Cheap Art’s Desocialized, and it is in fact the complete opposite of what the genre has come to be.
Cheap Art is a foursome from Atlanta, Georgia. Incorporating a vicious attack of male and female vocals a la Despise You, Desocialized is a gem. Surely, this could prove difficult to write about; what else can be said about fast attacks and blast beats? The band makes this task easier by switching up their style — they change direction multiple times. Right from the opening note, the EP is a kick in the teeth. A bone-crunching riff ushers in a mighty breakdown; a kind of hammer drop one can expect from doom metal but works intensely well here as an introduction to the mayhem that will most definitely ensue.
After the introduction, the track “Grown Apart” really sets the stage for what this EP is. It’s a loud, noisy romp; built for speed and aggression, coupled with sludge-y breakdowns and depressed beats. The track switches between female led vocals by Avry to male backing vocals, done by Bryan and the other members. The song cracks at the seams, down into a rage-induced breakdown that segues perfectly into the next track, “Burn Your Closets”. Of course, the album cannot be complete without fuzzy bass and two-step parts which come on “Bled Dry”, but Cheap Art is more than a band that caters to the sometimes gimmicky nature of these genres.
“Hate City Machismo” is the real first example of the aforementioned directional change. It’s a curveball that serves its purpose and overall makes Cheap Art more creative than their predecessors. The breakdown on “Grief” is a sludge-induced coma. It packs the wallop known from bands like Sleep while still bringing the ferocity of power violence. “This Party Sucks” is a punky tune that grooves, starting with a two step and breaking into that speed-driven mania.
Cheap Art is able to switch from this sort of bipolar style, whether it be the two-step or droning breakdowns. The alternating vocals reinforce this split-personality dichotomy; the male vocals are lower, rougher and more depressed while Avry’s vocals are higher in register — a primal scream that grabs attention. Cheap Art brings a lot to the table; they are a new breed of sonic assaulters that are able to switch things up where they see fit. This sort of technical ability, to divert between vocal styles, and musical styles, creates an acerbic sound that is its own breed of unrelenting and menacing.
The EP is available from Hygiene Records.
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