Reviews

A punk rock jam band not unaccustomed to ten minute compositions, not unwilling to let their music speak for itself in numerous instrumentals, a sonic force unrelenting at times, yet often meandering. All are positive traits. All describe Forensics on their first full length. Forensics borrow a dirty heaviness and a grandiose style liberally from the ashes of dearly departed and saintly Pageninetynine. "Things To Do When You Should Be Dead Anyway" takes that Virginia sound that defined Majority Rule and PG99 and is found in all subsequent ex-Pageninetynine bands like City of Caterpillar, Circle Takes The Square, Mannequin, and now Forensics. The second track " Did You See What God Did To Us Man?" (which sounds like a movie reference, like most of their other titles, but I can't place it) opens with a crushing groove not unlike slower Converge, some gruff DC-area vocals, and then coming in over the top, flies an enormous guitar riff that would be at home in any Southern hard rock band's repertoire. "As Long As There's No Flipper Babies," track five (title stolen from the movie Brain Candy) brings to mind Norma Jean's droning heaviness before dissolving into a streaking punk rock ball of lightning. An amazing mix of styles and influences grace this record to say the least.  In a week where I've gotten the new Dillinger, the new Converge, and a ton of old vinyl, Forensics seems to be in my record player more than anything else. That's saying something. This album is out in CD format in a nifty little digi-pack on Magic Bullet, band member Brent Eyestone's label, while Trash Art handles the LP. This means it's everywhere and it looks amazing, so waste no time picking this up in either digital or wax form.