Death metal | Grindcore | Metal
100%
Recorded at P J-Reda Studio in April 2003. Mastered at Kutno in February 2004.
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Seeds of Cruelty represents album number three of five for Polish death/grindcore metallers Toxic Bonkers and it is quite tremendous.
They sound like a perfect fusion of Florida’s Entombed with Brummie grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, certainly from the turn of the millennium.
The production on the album is a little poor, it’s very quiet which I particularly noticed while switching between Obituary, Napalm Death and Toxic Bonkers albums to compare them. The better supported artists certainly enjoy a clearer sound. But it’s nothing that turning up the volume doesn’t fix!
But the playing is fabulous. Not a note out of place. The bass and drums are tight, the guitars produce a wall of sound, which Qboot yells over.
The whole album weighs in at just a little over half an hour and it certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome. I would quite happily have listened to an album twice its length.
While I’m not overly fond of the band name, or the album cover, the music is fabulous and that, after all, is what it’s all about. If you like your grindcore to have a socio-political and anti-nazi slant, then I thoroughly recommend Toxic Bonkers.
Other than the production, I really can’t fault this album. It’s going up there with my favourites from this project.
Review score: 100%