DeSalvo - Mood Poisoner
An overdue but extremely well-realised debut album from one of Scotland's most prominent sociopathic hardcore acts
As with so many contemporary records depicting ball-gagged nuns making lurid advances on porcine livestock, Mood Poisoner isn't one for the dinner party. It is however one for the Bret Easton-Ellis-inspired orgy afterwards, as silk bedsheets are knotted between limbs, smearing blood across the swollen flesh of innumerable bodies of indeterminate sex. Botch, Jesus Lizard and Converge all have questions to answer to DeSalvo's parents, I'm sure, but in the meantime we can all enjoy an overdue but extremely well-realised debut album from one of Scotland's most prominent sociopathic hardcore acts. The hideous, staccato chug of Latrine Lizard is a definite highlight, as is the accruing bile of Get Black. Fiendish closing number Cock Swastika makes its point too, in typically subtle style. Next time you're entertaining then: red wine - check; Mood Poisoner - check; tie-wraps - check; coathangers - check; tub of salt - check. And don't forget the binliners. [Chris Cusack]