Central Nervous System

Reality Check (We Bite)
by Chaz Thorndike

These guys came at me from out of nowhere. Besides the music on the disc, I know nothing about them other than the fact that they’re from Nottingham, England and they’re into skateboards and graffiti art. They begin with a pretty standard sound: Big, heavy guitars and bass, Slayer-style drums (heavy on the toms and double bass thunder) with a bit more, well, dance-y hi-hat, and growling vocals. The sound’s solid, it’s just not distinctive. But then Central Nervous System lets loose their hidden member – a DJ.

Credits don’t even mention a percussionist, much less the nut in the background lobbing samples like grenades. Much like early Fear Factory, the vocals are typical grrr (which get tiresome, but hit the mark when you’re in that kinda mood), and the guitar is non-amazing powerchord chugging, but it’s the industrial/death element that makes this band one to watch. The last two remix tracks take two different approaches, thus destroying any shred of hope of categorizing this band. The “temor” (which isn’t a word, far as I can tell) remix goes straight to hip hop death, which is cool, while the “Zealot” remix is techno with only sampled panting for lyrics. Kinda cool when you think about it.