One has to love a band that doesn't mess around: three friends working at a record store decide to rock out in full, intentionally give themselves a none-more-metal name and album title, and record their debut specifically during the week of June 6, 2006 -- or in other words, 6-6-6. One could almost argue
the Fucking Wrath didn't even need to put out any music, so perfect was the concept, but
Season of Evil thrives by being a really great record all around -- no rules are rewritten per se, but that doesn't matter one whit. In love with overwhelming sludge as much as hyperspeed flash, and deeply indulgent in the best possible way with both,
Season of Evil begins with a knowing song title -- "Ride the Lighter" -- and a slow, dramatic dirge riff, plus either a fake or a real sample from some random source of doom and death. Really, what more is needed? From there the trio touches on everything from
Carcass' frenetic vocal interplay (really!) to
Mastodon's prog-in-hell rampage to the desert-fried zone, simultaneously an in-the-moment group and a fine salute to multiple pasts. Their song titles may sometimes pierce cheeks, but with piercing tongues: "Church of the Apocalypse," "Past Your Grave," "Hell Flies Tonight," "Gaze of the Cyclops." But again, it's not just concept but making it sound good -- if not flat-out great. "This Bear Blows Fire" is the kind of high-speed aggro boogie that
Motörhead invented and perfected (while "Past Your Grave" works in similar territory with an even better solo), while the sheer economy of the album (11 songs in 25 minutes) rivals
Pig Destroyer for getting down and getting it done. Another random sample from late in the album sums it all up: "Just pile-drivin' heavy-rockin' heavy metal rock & roll!" Couldn't put it any better.