INTOLERANT „Reasons For Unrest”

Music: Thrash Metal
Country: Philippines
Website: www.myspace.com/intolerantmetal
Duration: 56:04
Cool Songs: “Clenched Fist,” “Blun Force Trauma,” “Last Standing,” “Abandoned”

Not wasting time with fancy intros, “Clenched Fist” starts this debut album on a loud note. Reminiscent of Machine Head and Soulfly, the latter-day Thrash Metal Intolerant play comes steeped in aggression and bouncy grooves. The first track alone is heavy enough to make even the most jaded listener acknowledge the band’s familiar appeal. Since this is a first album, the energy level remains consistent from “Blunt Force Trauma” and the title track up to the shout-along chorus of “Death Toll Rising”. But wait, Intolerant aren’t all anger. A weeping guitar solo somewhere in the middle of the second song does betray Iron Maiden’s indelible influence.

The album falls under the shadow of both Down and Pantera’s “Great Southern Trendkill” halfway through its running time. Frontamn Russel Dela Cruz even does his own Phil Anselmo wails to the accompaniment of a moaning guitar lick. Once the unbridled fury (this is a pissed off collection of music, never forget that) of “My Demise” ends, “Santiago” arrives. It’s a straightforward instrumental free of complexity. Keeping true to the nature of Intolerant’s muscular sound, “Santiago” just hammers away between the snippets of movie dialogue that bracket it. The next song, “Agenda”, is a lot more straightforward, being another hate-fueled concoction that the band just loves to dish out; its melody is an unrelenting wave of Thrash accompanied by crashing cymbals. The biggest surprise on this song are the groovy breaks between the verses where Dimebag Darrel’s guitar-work comes to the fore. Intolerant simply adore everything Pantera.

The dancing bass lines at the start of “Last Standing” ultimately gives way to an overwhelming melody and, uhm, the band’s usual anger. Taking a much needed break on the album's last hurrah, “Abandoned” has this lazy drumbeat that morphs into Intolerant’s answer to “Planet Caravan” from “Far Beyond Driven”, only this one packs a lot more meat. Laid-back and sad when it’s ready to end, once the music fades “Reasons for Unrest” still has a bonus track that surfaces when the quietly running “Abandoned” reaches the 14-minute mark. For fans of Pantera, Machine Head, Sepultura, Down, and Lamb of God, these South East Asian Groove-Thrash commandos have released 2008’s most accomplished indie debut.

note: 7.5/10

Tracklist

1.Clenched Fist
2.Blunt Force Trauma
3.Reasons For Unrest
4.Death Toll Rising
5.My Demise
6.Santiago
7.Agenda
8.God of War
9.Last Standing
10.Abandoned

Line-up

Russel Dela Cruz- Vocals/Guitars
Joey Dizon- Guitars
Mic Gallegos- Bass
Pepo Gohu- Drums