[rating=7.00]
Power Trip are becoming one of Texas’ biggest metal acts. With extensive touring under their belt since the 2013 release of their debut full length, they’ve announced a spring time, month-long European stint in support of Napalm Death and Brujeria. On top of this excitement, they’ve also just released Nightmare Logic on Southern Lord, and it’s an LP that expands the width of their influence and makes a further effort at pushing out blockbuster crossover hits.
Right out of the gate it’s a pummeling force, but, very much like their previous effort Manifest Decimation, it’s aggressive music that dances the line of genres without going too hokey. PT have always been on point with making riffs sound sound old school quality, which might be why they come off so naturally as genre benders. Hardcore and metal music in their respective primitive stages weren’t as focused as they are now because the pioneering bands didn’t have everything laid out in front of them by way of today’s accessibility at large, and as a result the genre pool wasn’t as big. Today, a band could pull every sub genre of the underground under their umbrella and at a certain point, if it calls on the sounds of the old school, it’ll at least pass.
In the full 33 minutes of Nightmare Logic, the Dallas-based crossover outfit have taken their blueprint and thrown a lot more death-metal at it. It ranges in pace, moving back and forth from palm chugging mid-paced parts to full on thrash, savage and angular. The guitarists aren’t dating themselves. Aside from several dive bombs and a few buttery leads, they’re just keeping it groovy. Expect to hear a vast reverb on the drums and vocals as well. The record has a subtle sci-fi, cerebral vibe about it in its aesthetic, in an intense Al Jourgensen way. I don’t mean to take away from its substance by comparing it to its predecessors…it’s cool that a band like Power Trip might inadvertently sound like Ministry. But PT’s body of work doesn’t yield many flags or detractors for either hardcore or metal fans. It is a little safe, revivalist, but this band in their sophomore full length record are showing that they can do more with less. After maybe ten listens of Nightmare Logic, the songs have grown on my taste, feeling way beyond a gimmick. I’d say this record is a solid effort for its consistent grasp of your interest and for satisfying a lust for primitive-tough hardcore chugging. Definitely look to Power Trip’s next move with anticipation.
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