Whereas Agathocles had started to sound bland and uninspired on their previous full length, Superiority Overdose (with the exception of the daring 16 minue anthem “Pale”), their 2006 album “Mincer” was a slight return to form. The 2007 album “Mincer” features a guy called Roel on drums and it immediately becomes obvious the talent of Burt (1990-2002) is dearly missed. I’ve read that Roel has already been replaced which is something to be quite happy about, hoping his replacement will do a better job. Apart from the drums the second shortcoming is the production. Even though I like it raw, this sound is mostly foggy and not brutal enough.
Best songs on “Mincer” are the (longer and more dynamic) songs that have clearly been composed with the most care, being ‘Maze of Papers’, ‘Empty Frame’, ‘War Fetisjists Kill’, ‘Archives and Files’, ‘Logical Exodus’, ‘Goredom-Boredom’ and ‘Misery=Destiny’ which range from hardcore punk to Xysma/Repulsion inspired death grind. Also worth mentioning is the mid paced hardcore song ‘Kurose’. These songs show what Agathocles can play and write if they truly make an effort.
When listening to a lot of the other songs one gets the feeling Agathocles aren’t trying anymore and just record every single note or riff they write. Self criticism or reflection seems to have vanished. A lot of the shorter songs have that AC-DC/Status Quo mentality surrounding them, just giving their fanbase another load of these little tracks without caring too much about cool breaks or intros that could set these songs apart from each other.
Still, there a plenty of great songs to be found here but if you’re new to Agathocles I would not advise you to start with this album or its predecessor. I’m still waiting for the day to band will release quality albums like “Thanks for Your Hostility”, “Razor Sharp Daggers” or “Black Clouds Determinate” again or dares to push the boundaries once more.
There is however something worrying about this album and the earlier mentioned “Superiority Overdose”. I will not start accusing the band but I do feel the need to express my concerns. Their previously great independent image is now slowly starting to work against them. Agathocles were refreshing in the nineties, especially during their 1992-1998 period when they pushed the boundaries of the grindcore genre and became influential. However on the outside, with yet another line-up change, the band (Jan remaining to sole key member) is getting an image of a tightly run and over-organised dictatorship. Agathocles have gained the image of an ever changing bunch of musicians playing a long with the-man-in-charge.
The fact remains that over the years Agathocles have become what they opposed in the first place: icons. And at times the key member of the band seems to behave like one. Just give the audience (the masses) more of the same and no one will complain. Since Dirk joined the band on guitar, Agathocles have been sounding like a parody of themselves, writing a lot of short tunes just for the sake of writing short tunes and having a bad production just to have…. a bad production. A sense standardisation is creeping over their image. I dearly hope the band with quickly do something about this!
rafazardly 