HARDWARES

Contrive are a well-regarded Australian power trio consisting of a couple of twin Haug brothers plus a bass guy. And man, I don’t know if it’s ‘cos Fredrik Nordstrom mixed this thing, but this is one of the biggest, loudest, coolest, boomiest production jobs I’ve ever heard. Inside the music, and what you’ve got is an egregiously groovy doomy death. But wait, as you move deep into the record, you find rules shattered asunder. Picture your favourite leaden Dark Tranquillity and old In Flames moments butted up against Rollins, Therapy?, Wire, Thought Industry, United, Fugazi… It all coalesces wondrously for the melodic wash of the title track – such a simple idea yet so fresh and welcoming, with Andrew’s drum performance sublime. But the straight heavy metal highlight has got to be ‘Divided’, which just roars out by riff o’er rhythm bed that is 100% pure metal magic, like Omnium Gatherum and Rapture joining forces to re-record Flick Of The Switch. Prepare to be well and good perplexed, but prepare also to be impressed, not only at the effortless utility of this plush record but also at the fact that someone is still out there (in the wilderness)surprising wholesale like a Last Crack, Liquid Jesus, Big F or Led Zeppelin.