It's almost cruel that I happened to pick this one up for review; obviously Austin's WE'LL GO MACHETE are going for the FUGAZI / QUICKSAND / DRIVE LIKE JEHU post hardcore kinda sound. Truthfully, it probably makes more sense for one of our younger guys to review this one; I'd be interested in what they have to say because I'm sort of a Schreifels / Reis snob, having spent incalculable hours spinning discs of this type. I feel like I'm watching a young magician despite the fact that I know how all the tricks and illusions are executed. Unjust critical harshness is seemingly inevitable.

Well, the WGM guys have spent a lot of time with these discs as well, because they hit all the basic points: manic vocal shouts, mathy, twisted riffs, sawed-off structures, super-solid drumming, etc. Stuff like "Old Beast Will Crumble" would probably be my pick for best track due to the cool little solo. The FUGAZI-esque pulses in "Archibald" alternate with out-to-lunch space-signal guitar bits, just like the masters of old. There's really nothing on the disc that rivals the crazed, clawing, sawing attack of DLJ's "Spikes To You" or the pounding power of QUICKSAND's "Dine Alone", and at times it does seem like I'm listening to a cover band. But if this taster sends the young'uns off to Amazon for copies of "Yank Crime", the world can only become a better place. It will be interesting to see what WGM produces next time, hopefully asserting more of their own identity and less 90s hero worship.

- Marchman

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