Racebannon
http://www.racebannon.net

styles: crotch-rotting grindcore that gets mics wetter than … you know
others: Usurp Synapse, Jerome's Dream, Saetia, The WPP

The Inevitable: Singles and Rarities 1997-2005
Alone, 2005
rating: 4.5/5
reviewer: grantpurdumthegumshoe


Whether or not you approve of Racebannon's deathly oeuvre, The Inevitable is a must-have for hardcore hairballs sick of coughing up the same ol' wadded clots of metal refuse. Composed of a collage of old-to-new material, this just-in-time double disc lends the listener plenty of rarities to gnaw on, including a bevy of 7-inch tracks, covers, and early scratch takes.

As expected, the earlier tracks offer the stiffest, weightiest glimpses into 'Bannon insanity, churning abominable drum beats, intensely linear riffs, surprisingly groove-ridden bass, and the simply shocking presence of avant-core figurehead Mike Anderson, who squeals and hollers and shrieks like the runt of a tainted litter asking for another helping of slop. Rendering Anderson's growls all the more jarring is the double-up vocal presence of ex-member Chris Williams, an early ingredient of the Indiana quartet that boosts the magnitude of golden oldies like "On a Cloud of Green Smoke" and "Johnny Jet Blast Off" with askew barks and testy trade-off screams.

Trolling through this deep crevice of chaos yields two certainties: one, that Racebannon – whether they realize[d] it or not – were at their most deadly with Williams; and two, that few hardcore bands can match the rapid pace the group maintained throughout its tenure, constantly fluxing and flexing into new shapes nearly every year since 1997. Despite the relative accessibility problems many will find plumbing Racebannon's catalog, those who follow grind will find a wealth of separate periods to glom onto, from the brief surges of early material to the occasionally obtuse rant 'n' raves the group made famous with records like Satan's Kickin' Yer Dick In.

Playing out like a sports highlight reel of big hits, graceful catches, and hockey sticks to the face, the first disc mixes the old with the new to varying results, the former winning out. A cover of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69" truly launches this unruly comp with its wayward effects surges, but for this reviewer's money, "Ookie" is the most vital entry with its slobbering intensity, bulging blast beats, and off-kilter phrasing, followed closely by another relic rager, "What the Fuck's a Chinese Downhill?", which flops, flails, and flounders for five minutes, Anderson showing his propensity for classic Gibby Haynes gab-speak for perhaps the first time. Other entries such as "The Myth of Monogamy" and "Heavy and Awkward" tend to overstay their welcome, the latter living up to its moniker with sloppy Sabbath-bashing and needless noise; though a decent cover of Nirvana's "Oh, the Guilt" closes up shop with crass class.

Any slight problems with The Inevitable's first disc are immediately alleviated by the rancorous rage of the second, and superior, disc. Whether it be the slithering bass leads of "Red Hot Ranger," the crunchy guitar punch of "I'm On the Racing Team," or the brittle cackling of "That Rocketship Exploded," the ante is officially upped for Racebannon loyalists on entry numba two.

A must-have for those who don't have the cash or patience to track down Racebannon's myriad 7-inch/comp/singles tracks, The Inevitable is a nearly flawless document, right along with legendary collections such as Usurp Synapse's Disinformation Fix, Jerome's Dream's Completed, Charles Bronson's Complete Discocrappy, Neil Perry's Lineage Situation, and Saetia's A Retrospective, to name a few. Now go buy-buy-buy, bitch!

1. The Killer
2. Heavy and Awkward
3. Death Valley '69
4. Grow Up and Die
5. What the Fuck's a Chinese Downhill
6. Ookie
7. The Myth of Monogamy
8. On a Cloud of Green Smoke
9. Jeff Seet
10. Johnny Jet Blast Off
11. Funny, She Doesn't Look French
12. Oh, The Guilt
13. Jesus Was A...
14. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
15. Austin Considine
16. Red Hot Ranger
17. Go Team Go Green Light Go
18. Twice Around Pluto
19. Picasso the Plecostomus
20. Marshmallows Neatly Folded
21. I'm on the Racing Team
22. That Rocketship Exploded
23. The Boy in the Bathtub
24. Maybe I'll Make It in Hollywood
25. Baby Gokuo Goes to Hell
26. Por Favor, Mariachi, Por Favor
27. I'm on the Racing Team
28. Baby Gokuo Goes to Hell
29. Marshmallows Neatly Folded