Bringing together aspects of hardcore, sludge, and death metal, Cattlepress falls somewhere in the vast space between Neurosis and Morbid Angel. Their songs tend to have complex, winding structures, but the performances still sound loose and spontaneous. Certain songs will either fall into a groove or feature some sort of readily identifiable main riff ("Arc of Infinty" and "Unchartered," for example), while others, being more dense and discordant, are tougher to get one's head around -- this is an album that will take several repeated spins to get a grasp on. What does immediately come across, though, is the feeling of pure hatred and loathing -- most evident in Eddie Ortiz's hoarse, cathartic screams -- that seems to be the driving impulse behind the band's music. There is a lot of negative energy on hand here, and while Cattle Press has not channeled it in the most accessible way, fans of bleak, uncompromising hardcore/metal should find a lot to appreciate on this album.