buffalo grillz grind canyon

Released: 2010 Label: Gangsta Paradise

This record took a few spins to grow on me, but admittedly, it did. A hybrid of death / grind metal, it certainly embodies two musical elements that soothe my savage beasts.

It’s evident upon first, or perhaps second listen that the musicians know how to play their instruments and the music is actually quite palatable. The production of the album leaves a bit to be desired, and the vocals are deeply buried, which is a shame because I love a good, colon-rumbling growl in the forefront of my musical offerings.

A common, yet unfounded complaint often heard about extreme metal is that it’s “just noise” and the the lyrics “can’t be understood.” Metal heads hear far more than “noise” when listening to their genre of choice, and much the same as a nurse learns to read doctors’ sloppy / serial killer handwriting with the greatest of ease, metal heads easily learn how to decipher death / grind / black / metal lyrics as if it were plain, straightforward speech.

Color me stunned when I actually could not make out any discernible lyrics when listening to Grind Canyon. The joke might very well be on me, because I am beginning to suspect there ARE no real lyrics.. just growling. This leads the listener to wonder if Buffalo Grillz are a “serious” metal band or mocking the genre. If the latter is true, it’s a damn shame, because they CAN play metal, and quite convincingly.

Track six, Grindasia, is as catchy and engrossing as any Cannibal Corpse tune, and has all the elements required to be a “fist in the face” dose of heavy and satisfying metal with a little fine tuning.

The rest of the album keeps the listener engrossed, even if it is only to peel one’s ears, searching for the admittedly catchy riffs and impressive grind rhythms buried deep within the mud of the mix.

When grooving to track fourteen, No Mastino, No Grind I swear (or maybe I just hope) I distinctly heard a “mother f***er” or two uttered... if so, we may be well on our way to a fully engrossing metal album.

by Aline Miladinovich