Are you willing to push the limits of you musical palette? If you said yes, Gnaw’s debut album will be a release that you will listen to time and time again in an attempt to figure out what hidden meanings lie beneath its harsh, violent exterior. Even listeners who have experienced quite a number of noise artists will find that Alan Dubin and the rest of his band have a unique way of doing things that separates them from the rest. But one thing is for sure, Gnaw is off to an intriguing start and considering how many different elements are present it will be exciting to see just where the group chooses to go from here.
Gnaw is an aurally terrifying display of dissonance, yet is not without rhyme or reason. Once again, it’s all relative though, isn’t it? …the noise terrorism takes several different forms, none of which are soothing to the ears or conducive to anger management. However, through all the electronic-laced, feedback drenched, and tribally percussive clutter and clatter, This Face offers memorable moments…
[Gnaw] provides more grist for the gore mill than most could cope with. Haven Vault is howling white noise and harsh blackened vocals but the centerpiece is “Feelers”, whose remorselessly increasing bpm could drive a sensitive person to tears. Horrifically effective. [8/10]
Gnaw’s relentless rhythmic grind, almost psycjedelic in its use of infinite shades of grey, emphasizes the oppressive crush of city-dwelling. They perceive the metropolis as a vast mincing machine, the meatpacking district expanding to consume and process the entirety of the five boroughs. So-called “extreme music” often posits an idea of Hell; Gnaw deal only in the most nightmarish, man-made variety.
Couldn’t tell you what it says, but it’s probably pretty terrifying.