Since hearing their split seven inch with Forræderi, Barren Womb have really managed to get my full attention. In fact, they have quickly become one of my favorite underground bands. These Norwegian noise makers have only been around since 2011, but they’re already off to a roaring start. Formed from the ashes of Like Rats From A Sinking Ship, the duo of Timo Silvola and Tony Gonzahl set out to make “art that has weight and meaning” in the form of Barren Womb. They could easily be considered a noise punk band, but they are so much more than that. They have no fear of treading into the territory of other genres such as black metal, hardcore, and even country.
There’s a damn good reason I’ve been adamant about sharing every teaser leading up to their EP On the Origin of Fæces and, finally, a full album stream. This is a band you need to hear, and this is an album that fully deserves your time. From the odd, wonky beginning of album opener “Mohawkwind” to the final riff on “My Pal Trenchfoot” the eight tracks on this album never let up. There’s an almost exhausting array of twists and turns down the wild path Barren Womb have carved out for the listener.
The thing that really makes Barren Womb stand out from the pack is their inherent sense of danger. They obviously could care less about playing it safe, and they aren’t the least bit scared of shaking up things a bit. That is something I fully respect. We live in a world of “playing it safe,” and it’s refreshing when bands like this come along which isn’t that often.
Even most good albums have at least one bad song. Not On the Origin of Fæces . It kicks ass from start to finish. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a couple of favorite tracks though. Surprisingly, my favorite is the longest track, “Are We Werewolves Yet.” The answer to that question for Barren Womb is a big, fat yes. They bare their razor sharp teeth all throughout this album. The track itself has a dark bouncy guitar riff that propels the track down a shadow covered dirt road to make a pact with the devil. I’m also really into “My Fault Your Fault Defualt.” There’s a lot going on in that scant two and a half minutes. The vocals and music are so disparate and volatile it’s as if Barren Womb are about to combust.
There’s just something so inviting about Barren Womb’s spastic, A.D.D. infused sound. With On the Origin of Fæces, they have proven themselves as a true force to be reckoned with. This is a band to keep your eyes and ears on because they’re clearly on the right path. I highly recommend this album and can easily see it sitting among the best albums of the year.
Rating: 10/10
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