Noxis
"Live at
Joe's Garage"
Dawnbreed Rec.
2023
Noxis is a band
that apparently has no luck with a stable lineup. Although they've been around
for only four years, virtually every subsequent recording session has been done
with different people. The only binding element is the bassist Dave Kirsch, and
it's probably him, inferring from what we'll hear on "Live at Joe's
Garage," who is the brains of the crew from overseas. The material in
question, as the title emphatically suggests, was recorded live in the garage
of Joe, the drummer, and this took place in June of this year. Let me start
perhaps by saying that this session is a kind of "The Best of..."
with additional two new tracks, and the sound that the gentlemen achieved here
beats many a studio production. However, to make sure we understand each other
in the process. I mean old-school standards, because organics stink a mile away
when listening to these songs. As for the music itself, Noxis is a classic
cross-section of everything that was best in American death metal from the
1990s. You want blasts? Thery are here. You like technical swirls? Not a
problem. Massive slowdowns, rhythmic passages to bang your head at, gentle
dissonance... You name it, you got it. And what is perhaps the greatest asset
of Noxis' music is its uncanny ability to combine all these elements in an
intriguing and incredibly engaging amalgam. At the same time, I am not claiming
that this is some kind of innovation. On the contrary. It seems that Dave and his
mates have such a strong love for Florida classics that they would give a
living for Cannibal Corpse, early Cryptopsy or a few others. At the same time,
it should be noted that these guys seem to have found the golden mean of
combining brutal death metal with its technical brother, while not stepping
into the generally established framework. I must also mention two elements that
are very important for the overall picture of "Live at Joe's Garage".
The first one is the vocals, whose variety, yet fidelity to the death metal
style, is truly top shelf. And the icing on the cake. The bass lines and their
omnipresence in the foreground is, for me, a masterpiece. You have to admit
that Dave has a real talent and, with absolutely nothing to take away from his fellows,
he seems to be the one steering the ship. This material lasts less than half an
hour, but let me tell you, it can get pretty loopy in your head and after a few
listens you can completely lose track of time. If you haven't encountered the
Cleveland band's name before, this cassette released on Dawnbreed Records is
the perfect opportunity to catch up. And it's worth it. Worth it like hell!
- jesusatan
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