The Good, The Bad And The Grind

Transient is a female-fronted grindcore band, established in Oregon in 2008. The band has since recorded and released several split EPs and have released material on Relapse records. They have also toured the U.S. and shared stages with well-known acts such as Brujeria, Brutal Truth, Poison Idea and Iskra. Though they’re relatively new for a grindcore band, their hard worked has paid off in keeping this subgenre of music alive and well, in addition to building a positive reputation. Their full-length self titled debut, Transient,  is best described as an assault of brutally-driven grindcore.

What this LP sounds like, essentially, shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who are avid extreme metal fans. Each and every single one of the songs is fueled by aggressive shouting vocals, noisy distorted guitar riffs, crunchy bass lines and blazing blast beats. That said, there are some subtle elements that might surprise. The female vocals add a different feel to the songs than most metal fans would expect, since the screams aren’t as guttural. Furthermore, some songs on here, such as “False Philanthropy,” stretch nearly into the two-minute mark, which is uncommon in the vast majority of grindcore.

Perhaps the biggest turn off with this LP isn’t really a negative attribute of Transient in particular. The bottom line is that Transient’s work is actually quite good, excellently executed and wonderfully produced. But grindcore is a genre that oftentimes leaves little room for experimentation or evolution, and as a result, Transient’s work doesn’t actually stick out very much from what other bands of the same subgenre are already doing. Therefore, this album might be dismissed by many as being unworthy of revisiting.

That being said, Transient the album is undoubtedly successful. The band not only met the qualifications needed to be a good grindcore band, but the vocals and instrumentation are phenomenal. Highly recommended for those seeking brutal and aggressive music; buy the album from Six Weeks Records.