MIKE PAGE - S/T

First "solo" album from the incomparable Mike Page, he of Fire In The Head, Sky Burial etc etc. When I got sent the original cut of this record he put a note in saying something like "Here's my new record...no
PE, no ambient, JUST NOISE". Whilst this IS a departure from a lot of what he's known for, it would be a travesty to describe this as JUST noise. What you get here is one lengthy plunge into the depths of carefully-constructed aural extremity, utterly loud and heavy as fuck and utilising as many extremes of tone that your poor lugs can take! Sometimes it all goes a bit quiet and you think there's going to be an extended period of aural respite...until some shrieking high-end comes in and blows away any idea of shelter from the onslaught.

I was really disappointed when Mike announced he was giving up F/I/T/H but if he keeps up this level of intensity and sheer bloody-minded bludgeon the future's bright.