Admiral Angry - Buster (2008)

Buster is this unique band's debut album, and anyone who picks it up not knowing what to expect will floored by what they find. Admiral Angry's guitarist Daniel Krauss wrote all of the band's music, and tragically after the release of this album, he succumbed to the horrors of cystic fibrosis and died in February of 2009. This obscure gem is an unbelievably punishing exercise in rage and anger, whose sound is unique and immediately recognizable once heard. In an ocean of bands trying to pull this sound off, Admiral Angry headwalks over all competitors, one devastating note at a time.

Artwork: The band has said in interviews that the artwork was meant to confuse the potential listener, giving them no idea what the music would sound like. Hearing the album, the artwork has nothing discernible to do with any aspect of the music. Maybe there is a deliberate contrast here - the mastodon is the band, and the bunny is the listener.

Structure: There isn't an overall concept to the album, and each song stands on its own. Some tracks flow into each other, but Buster is basically nine songs, simple as that.

Sound: If you say the words "Admiral Angry" in the general vicinity of anyone who has ever heard this band, you will almost certainly see them shudder. Imagine a band like Deftones, slowed to half-speed and tuned an octave (yes, a full octave) down, with impossibly thick strings playing through high-gain amplifiers, with Chino Moreno coked out and being shocked at random intervals. The sounds presented here are absolutely crushing, even the many slow single-note riffs on this album, simply due to the never-ceasing wall of sound crashing through your speakers. If you can remember the way you felt when you listened to the heaviest part of that first hardcore or metal CD you bought, the part that you played over and over and thought nothing could be heavier - each passage of this album will give you that feeling, one after another after another. A single listen to a single song will mark you for life, knowing what Admiral Angry sounds like, and give you a reason to hear other similar but lesser bands and say "Admiral Angry did it better" - because chances are, they did. The only drawback to the album is that if a listener dislikes the first two minutes, they will most likely not find anything appealing throughout the rest of it. Admiral Angry falls squarely into the "either love it or hate it" category of heavy music.

Lyrics: Buster's lyrics are printed in all caps for good reason. Each song is a stream-of-consciousness experience that moves you through a distinctly dark and mechanical or even medicinal space. The imagery presented throughout the album is very strong, evoking clear ideas of pent-up rage, some drug/medicinal imagery, and borderline insanity.

Significant Facts: The band donated all album sales and most show cuts to various cystic fibrosis research foundations. Also, they referred to Daniel as "the Admiral."

For Fans Of: Black Sheep Wall, Deftones

Favorite Lyrics: "I BETTER WATCH OUT 'CAUSE I HAVE A GUN
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I KNOW IT"

"NOBODY TAKES SHELTER UNDER A TREE STRIPPED OF ITS LIMBS"

Favorite Track: Android

1. Sex With A Stranger
2. Circling The Drain
3. Kill Yourself
4. Plastic Bath
5. Blow Down
6. Android
7. Specimen On
8. Bug Vomit
9. The Illusion of Strength

Rating: 9 / 10

Buy: Shels Music
Listen: myspace /// facebook

-Brian