Album Review: High Tension - Purge

While High Tension have flirted with metal for the past two albums (Lapindo from Bully was a pretty decent Kyuss tribute, for example, and most of their output has been summoned from the thrashier side of punk), they've finally crossed the threshold with fists flying.

Purge is a scintillating listen, a scorching rebuke of the Indonesian anti-communist purge of the 1960s. It feels personal, and lead vocalist Karina Utomo has the band burn through a shopping list of styles in order to find a way to exorcise her rage; thrash (Bite The Leash (Burn)), sludgy riff-heavy Motorhead groove (Ular) and even alt-metal (Surrender) - all find a place in Purge.

There's no goal here short of scorched earth and, to that end, they turn off the safety, blasting us with a force hitherto unheard of from a group who are no strangers to noise. New(ish) drummer Lauren Hammel and guitarist Mike Deslandes make their presence known (the latter on desk duties), with a tighter rhythm section and leaner, meaner songwriting. There's a much greater emphasis on extended build-ups and payoffs, with crankier riffing and more polished production thrown in for good measure. Previous album Bully had a looser feel, a rough sketch of what High Tension were capable of. Purge is a huge step forward.

Utomo's presence front and centre is their ace in the hole, and here she deploys her vicious caterwaul to great effect. Opening track Red White Shame opens with a gothic, Savages-like post-punk riff that is ripped apart by Utomo's entrance. The initial jagged machine-gun snare attack is a declaration of war as the group stomp through the record with impressive zeal.

Their control over pacing is excellent. The Legacy is a ball-tearer that switches deftly between gears, shedding its initial math-y architecture to launch into breakneck-speed rock before finally collapsing into a thumping anthemic monster. They don't compromise any particular approach by favouring several and they don't trip over their own shoes.

The pressure builds as you make your way through, with Veil and The Stench pushing things to the brink after a midpoint palette cleanser (Surrender). Don't look for a way out, though. It's oppressive, only letting up after the monolithic brutality of Rise finally splutters out.

High Tension sound like they entered a fugue state while recording this. Purge is miles ahead of Bully, itself a fine take on modern hardcore. The arrangements are bigger and tighter, the fury is white hot and Utomo has never sounded better (or angrier). It's inspired, it's exhausting, it's exhilarating and it's an awesome example of what can be accomplished when something makes you so angry you just want to make a fucking metal record.