Buffalo Grillz Grind Canyon
by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer
This Italian death / grindcore quartet’s debut album is a peculiar thing: on the one hand it shows the impeccable mastery of their chosen genre, but on the other betrays their talent for much more than solid, deep growling vocals, wall-of-sound texture and brutal delivery.
As soon as you get to the “Elisir”, the third track of this record, you start suspecting that Buffalo Grillz could become successful at anything they turned their collective hand to – be it death, grindcore, thrash, hard rock or any other style. “Fisting Daisy” – a country-tingled number echoing John 5’s bluegrass extrapolations and “Grind Canyon” – the biggest standout of this record – prove those suspicions.
There is compositional latitude, top-notch instrumental skill, and genuine interest in other styles behind the overblown vehemence and apparent brutality of the record at hand. Not to mention the band’s self-irony which makes them eschew lyrics altogether (singer Enrico Giannone’s parts are just primal pre-verbal sounds) and incorporate cartoonish computer game noises / funfair music into the tracks.
It is not clear how loyal Buffalo Grillz will remain to metal, but it seems that wherever their imagination will take them, the ride will be just as unexpected and just as fun as the debut.
Genre: Death metal / grindcore
Band:
Enrico “Tombinor” Giannone – insults and no lyrics
Marco “Cinghio” Mastrobuono – noise, guitars, bass, backing vocals
Luciano “Gux” Robibaro – heavy distorted bass, backing vocals
Massimo “Mastino” Romano – blast
Track listing:
1. Il Grind E’ Servito
2. Cous Cous Clan
3. Elisir
4. Part I: The Birth (Trilogy)
5. The Boss Anova
6. Grindasia
7. Part II: The Life (Trilogy)
8. Grind Canyon
9. Fisting Daisy
10. Veni Vidi Grindi
11. New World Disagius
12. Graind Paccordo Anulanre
13. Part III: The Death (Trilogy)
14. Il Lago Dei Cinghi
15. Grind Magne’
16. Grind Gala’
Bonus track:
17. No Mastino No Grind (A Rock’n’Roll Song)
Online: www.myspace.com/buffalogrillz ; www.buffalogrillz.com
Label: Gangsta Paradise
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10