Grip Inc.

Incorporated (SPV)
By Martin Popoff

Yes, a troubled band from a different time, a metal wasteland as it were, a time when Lombardo could give Grip Inc. his undivided. It’s strange seeing Tornadofists back with old punk troublemaker Gus and quiet-lately producer/guitarist Waldemar Sorychta. And they look both lonely and iffy standing there, the three of them, under gray skies, no bass player, essentially unworkable. But what of the music? Well, Grip Inc. roars like a warhorse mismatched from three warhorses, the band fit together to make a unique cross between Slayer, Anglo hooligan hardcore, and Egyptian melodies. Call it Killing Joke crossed with Overkill, or maybe Rammstein with Testament. It’s all very percussive, militaristically barked, riffs everywhere, but also recurrent bits of electronics, or more accurately, wood and wire made to sound like machine. I applaud the hard, shiny art, but I’m bummed out cuz I can’t see these guys drinking beer together, much less getting each other’s jokes. I mean, how does Lombardo get excited about this after playing mind games with Mike Patton and that big-haired Melvin?
(www.spvusa.com)