After the surprising excellence of the recent Odium album, I thought I’d delve back into the Year of the Sun Records pool, only this time with different results.

Never have a band been so appropriately named (at least until a band comes out called ‘Annoying Fucking kids Playing Shitty Deathcore’, but I digress). Canada’s Misguided Aggression simply can’t decide what they are for all their aggression. From the groove metal throes of the opening title track, to the modern hardcore meets thrash of “Our Kingdom Come”, the awkward American Metal meets (admittedly decent) deathcore lurch of “Pigs in the Market”, Misguided Aggression show more muddled elements in their first three songs that most bands can fit onto an album.

It’s not that Misguided Aggression are bad as there are some OK moments on their debut album, but the different influences are battling so hard with each other the album is just a disjointed mess of ‘parts’ rather than a fluid album- “Pigs in the Market” is a perfect example- as right after the solid deathcore lurch, there’s this synth/orchestral flourish that’s just out of place and forced. Looking for shimmery metalcore riffs, clean vocals and a gradually slowing breakdown? – all contained in “Faces of Abomination”. You want discordant experimentation and quirky song structures? Try Interlude “The Palamnaeusus Fulvipes” and “Mustard Gas and Roses”. “Flesh to Gold” is just a squealing mess and closer “Metal Horn Bessy” mercifully ends the thankfully brief album with little or no impact at all. Even the song titles are all over the place.

I’ve heard far worse records in 2009, but Misguided Aggression is one of the more annoying due to the constant battle of disjointed influences amid some obvious skill and passion. Maybe next time lads.

[Visit the band's website]

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