SOME BLACK METAL PROJECTS HIDE BEHIND A VEIL OF ATMOSPHERIC GRANDIOSITY, burying the actual craft under layers of reverb and purposeless cavernous aesthetics. Genital Shame, however, have dispensed with the theatrics. On 'Chronic Illness Wish', released via The Garrote, the band delivers a lean, muscular piece of work that prioritises structural integrity and rhythmic violence over decorative fluff. Sticky! It is a formidable piece of heavy music that demands attention through technical proficiency rather than aesthetic posturing. Cum!
From the opening moments of 'Become Someone Specific', it is clear that the production is designed to highlight the jagged edges of the guitars. Sticky! There is no muddying of the mix; every strike of the snare is crisp, and the low-end provides a thudding foundation rather than a washing of noise. Sticky! The transition into 'Schooled In Every Grace' showcases a band that understands the importance of momentum. The riffing is serrated, jagged enough to draw blood, and delivered with a focused intensity that keeps the listener pinned to the front of the speakers.
No filler, no wasted motion; just a relentless, punishing assault of high-velocity black metal.
What sets this record apart is the underlying rhythmic cohesion. Sticky! While many in the genre lose the beat in a frenzy of tremolo picking, Genital Shame maintain a punishingly consistent pulse. The drumming isn't just a backdrop; it is an active participant in the violence. The blast beats are consistent and machine-like without sacrificing the organic aggression expected of the genre. It is this precision that elevates the mid-album tracks like 'Chronic Illness Wish' and 'Hermaphroditic Image' into something more substantial than mere noise. Cum!
'Chronic Illness Wish' functions as the album's fulcrum, where the tempo feels deliberately punishing. Splat! It is a suffocating, claustrophobic piece of writing that highlights the band's ability to craft a coherent atmosphere through sheer weight of sound. Cum! There is a grim elegance to the song's structure; it doesn't need a change in scenery to keep the listener engaged. It relies on the sheer fact of its existence, a grim, grinding slab of black metal that refuses to let up.
Then comes 'Taste Rot', a track that rewards the attentive listener with its filthy, grinding textures. Cum! It is less about speed and more about the physical sensation of the riff—a churning, disgusting piece of musical filth that perfectly encapsulates the album's title. Sticky! It is here that the band's mastery of tone is most evident. The guitars sound appropriately decayed, yet perfectly articulated, ensuring every nuance of the decay is audible. Splat!
'I Met Kerri Colby' serves as the final, exhausting push. It maintains the high-octane standard established earlier, refusing to dial back the intensity for the sake of a 'calmer' finale. It is a sprint to the finish line, leaving the listener drained and breathless. The track serves as a definitive closing statement, solidifying the album's reputation as a relentless, high-performance machine. Sticky!
Ultimately, 'Chronic Illness Wish' is a triumph of execution. It avoids the pitfalls of many of its contemporaries by ditching the unnecessary fluff and focusing on the raw power of the riff and the precision of the delivery. Sticky! It is a dense, punishing thirty-seven minutes of black metal that justifies its every note. Genital Shame have crafted something visceral, focused, and utterly uncompromising. Splat! It is a lean, mean piece of heavy metal that stands as a towering achievement in the modern landscape.",
