I've read quite a bunch of positive opinions about this album when it'd just appeared so before listening to this release I was expecting much and well, my expectations came true. Grain Belt is a composite project in which people from known USA harsh noise projects such as Baculum, Willful and Wince takes part. My recollections about their solo works were rather pleasant - good quality and good emotions. I think the same way about this release. Grain Belt CD is monstrously intense harsh noise album that consists of three live records and tortures you for almost 50 minutes. I think the instruments used for the record or at least their equivalents are shown on the cover - chains, scraps of metal, sheets of tin, wires, pieces of fittings, metallic clubs etc. Since the very start of the album, apart from pauses of couple of seconds in between tracks, this record is uncompromising hell of feedbacks, clanging and crushing of metal, abusing contact microphones and pedals. Since this project consists of several persons and the recording is live, the result is very good and interesting. Let's say one short episode - on the left side distant clanging with chain from behind the wall of feedback appears, several seconds from that it's gone and only screaming feedback is left and more intense noise goes into the right side and so on. Not a second to catch a breath, not a thought about lyrical deflections. That's one crushing harsh noise machine. It's not without a reason that after several spins of this CD you want to make pauses of silence and disconnect from this madness for some time. Noise tires you physically. This album and collaboration somehow reminds me of Finnish noise scene. Intensity, brutality, power and open aggression. Regardless of the fact that all three tracks are connecting via aforementioned descriptions, the last track was the best for my ears. The sound doesn't manouvre in this track only in high and mid-frequencies, but touches pleasant low rumbling too. Also the tiniest details from this performance is heard and they're more distinct than in the tracks before. Anyways, this CD is a top notch release and a must have for noisers who doesn't pity their ears. It would be interesting to hear studio recordings of this project some time in the future. I think that'd be something great too.

Format: CD
Released: 2010
Label: Small Doses, White Centipede Noise, Phage Tapes
Edition: 200