Bygones

Featuring members of noise troops Hella and Tera Melos, Bygones are a two-piece that bust out technical, swooping riffs and dysfunctional rhythms while still managing to keep a pop sensibility beyond all the mayhem. The guitar work is reminiscent of Black Flag's Greg Ginn, as the axe takes on a personality of its own, as if it were an additional member of the band, while the drum work is spastic and punishing — the entire kit is used, leaving no cymbal spared. The distorted vocals weave their way through the entangled mess of blasting noise, acting as an exotic instrument only used when absolutely necessary. The sheer energy on By- is comparable to a caffeine overdose, in the sense that it pumps up the listener while rendering them useless at the sheer amazement of how each song is insanely crafted. It's always jaw dropping when a band can squeeze more riffs into one five-minute song than most bands can into an entire album.