Unsane - Visqueen

Born from the same scene that inflicted Helmet and Cop Shoot Cop upon hardened ears, Unsane have seen a tumultuous career that has spanned more than 15 years. Now housed in Mike Patton's roster of the weird and peverted, Ipecac, Unsane are still barraging listeners with their sludge-punk monstrosities, but are doing little to raise their heads above all the other bands playing this kind of music, and are somewhat resting on their drug-addled laurels. The riffs could be used to decimate a military target while Chris Spencer's vocals could strip asbestos insulation, and the odd flourish of industrial noise with wailing blues slide-guitar brings colour to the proceedings, but there's not a lot extra here to reel in new fans. It goes to show how the old vanguard can't always bring the crowds in. Being tremendously heavy might get you by but it doesn't necessarily equate to excellence. [Ali Maloney]