Boiler

The New Professionals

(c)1998 Mayhem Records Ltd.

Review by Vladimir Levin

Thanks to Mayhem for the CD

The NEW Professionals, Boiler's first release, heralds an auspicious debut for this New York three piece with its punchy, urban sound. Indeed, here we have yet another quality recording from Mayhem records which already has well-known bands such a Testament and Pro-Pain on its roster.

Boiler's sound represents a mix of styles, dominated by rap and hardcore elements also including metal and industrial influences; the result is original and dynamic. In particular, the slightly off-key, guitar feedback effects combined with simple but effective double-bass drum beats form a bluesy groove with a laid-back casual agression. I perceive elements of the classic hardcore bands -- Pro-Pain, Biohazard, and here and there hints of the saturated steel-stringed Pantera sound circa "Great Southern Trend Kill".

The approach to the vocals with Marc Mays and Will Price trading-off mildly distorted, spoken-word verses works well with this big, bass-enriched sound and the fast, edgy songs. The promo literature describes this as "raging rock grooviness".

This CD is pretty heavy, but catchy, and easy to listen to. While I found that the CD started to have a certain repetitiveness to it into the later tracks, I would still suggest this is a very good album in its own right, and definitely an excellently produced debut.

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