We have sort of a running joke on the site regarding "duo" bands. Seems like Peacedogman is mercilessly besieged with mediocre ambient / stoner / garage combos, seeking the acceptance and praise we may shower on full band without actually forming one. Typically, the discs get passed around like hot potatoes before somebody dives in to dissect the mind-numbing mediocrity.

SF's POPULATION REDUCTION effectively blows the bell curve for duos, seizing our full attention with astonishing bestial artwork, profaning our subconscious minds with foul, chemically damaged lyrics, and luring us into the lion's den with some of 2008's sickest, crunchiest death metal riffage. The production's a little meaner and clearer than the infamous "At The Throats of Man Forever" stuff, but there's no shortage of dope-driven ripping apart, severing flesh, gouging eyes, or tearing limb from limb. One small taste of "Legalize Everything" or "Black Metal Beach Party" and it's over; the Paypal's pillaged and Scotty Tankcrimes is shootin' these bitches out the door to ya. The SKINLESS, GHOUL, ASSÜCK, PHOBIA, and INFEST fans should have a difficult time resisting this one. Maybe I'll see some of you at Crabcake City Deathfest this year - day two looks pretty sweet. Does Baltimore have more murders than Oakland yet? We've gotta be close. At any rate, this may tide you over 'til then.

- Marchman

POPULATION REDUCTION - "Each Birth a New Disaster", 2008 (Tankcrimes)

Now there's a positive message for ya', kids! Use contraceptives!

Yeah, this one's a tough one to take seriously. Just take a look at the comic book art gracing the cover. The mermaid chick is showing her boobies and playing with the saliva from the hydra headed creature growing from her hair. And that's not the part I'm having a hard time taking serious!

The album opens with the disturbingly entitled instrumental, "Schnauzer Autopsy" and is then followed up with a great odes to chemical dependency in "Hash Smoking Grind Freaks," "Amish Meth Dealer," and "Legalize Everything." It's dark, folks. Dark humor, perhaps? Enough of this gay banter . . . let me get to the music. (Crickets)

What is supposed to pass as music actually doesn't offend my ears as much as one would think. The guitars are meaty and they gotta' be to chug out a tune called "Sausage Factory Showdown." The drums are uber-fast. The vocals are just that, something vocalizing in the deeper, darker corners of a really deep and dark place with corners. Maybe it's the mer-chick from the cover. I don't know. It's metal. It's loud and abrasive. But, just because it's loud and abrasive doesn't mean that it's good. Best song title is "Punching Zombies in the Face." Who doesn't love doing that?

- Rancik

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/populationreduction

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