Low Twelve - "Blunt Force Trauma" (Nasty Music)

These four guys, Pete Altieri/bass + vocals, Tim McCleland/guitar, Steve Chestney/drums, Les Aldridge/guitar, are probably not Bloomington, Illinois favorite sons. It would be my guess that if it were widely known just how beautifully brutal their music was a posse would be formed to ride them straight out of town. Though that would be a distinct cultural loss for the Bloomington metal underground it could do wonders for the rest of the worlds ever-expanding metal forces. This is brutally honest music made by intelligent and passionate artisans with more than a touch of morbid curiosity.

"BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA" is actually a four-song demo that goes a long way in showcasing the group's ability to both persuade and pummel the listener, often doing both at once. "Someone Else's Blood" is the spoken word introduction to the group and one can only hope that it is a work of fiction still, at the end you are left wondering. "Man with Spots" is reminiscent of PRO-PAIN in its fist upside the head approach to hardcore metal. "Begging to Die" is a buzzing, slashing piece of power that is every bit as deserving to be heard by a wider audience as anything that I have ever heard. And lastly, "Crawlspace" is an ode to that original insane Clown, John Wayne Gacey, very disturbing indeed.

To be fair, I must say that for as much as I like this four-song collection it is a bit rough in the production department but those rough edges could easily be ground into a fine edge by a more experienced ear. If potential was any predictor, LOW 12 would be on their way to Morrissound right now but as with everything else in life, you just have to wait and see how it all develops. An auspicious start for a very, very powerful group no matter what the town fathers would think.

3/5

Reviewed by: David Lee