Rough Edge: Rhino CD Reviews

RHINO

"Dead Throne Monarch" (Arctic; 2009)

Reviewed by Metal Mark

Sometimes, when reviewing, I check other sources to help me. For this review I went to a dictionary after hearing the album a few times. I looked up the word "monotony" and found two entries. The first was about a lack of variation in pitch or inflection and the second meaning was about being tedious or repetitious. Unfortunately, all of the above applies to Spain's Rhino.

Normally this type of music would seem to be right up my alley. Heavy doom with thrash bits pieced woven in here and there. Undoubtedly, establishing a heavy foundation was certainly high on Rhino's list of things to do on this album. It is loud, but not particularly effective. They enter into the realm of raw sludge, but they just wallow around in their riffs without building or creating much of anything.

At times this CD reminded me of Crowbar, another band who thought slow and heavy music had to be dull and tedious. Rhino have an okay grasp on initially establishing some promising tones, but they drone on without any real direction. They do manage to mix in some thrash parts throughout. The change of pace was welcomed by my ears, but it didn't really help the songs a great deal. The thrash bits were okay by themselves and seemed more tacked on than anything.

I gave "Dead Throne Monarch" several plays hoping it might take, but it actually wore on my nerves the more I heard it. My biggest gripe with this disc is that the band never really reaches out. They seem all too content to try to ride out time without ever attempting to accomplish much of anything. Indeed, I don't think they accomplished much at all on this disc.

For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/rhinomotherfuckers.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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