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Chicago’s Bludgeon are the sort of band you’d expect to
encounter in the lower regions of a Midwestern metalfest bill. Their
knuckle-dragging, pit-orientated sound is the lifeblood of promoters
more interested in cramming as many acts as possible onto their
pay-to-play stages than in genuine talent or entertainment value.
Quite
what Joey DeMaio heard in these guys that he wasn’t hearing in
hundreds of other smalltime outfits is a mystery, but he duly signed
them and produced their debut album for his
Magic Circle
imprint back in 2002. Four years later, Bludgeon are back with “World
Controlled” and if anything sound even more irrelevant. Forsaking the
death growls of “Crucify the Priest” for hardcore vocals and some
vague stabs at social commentary, the band pummel through this
eleven-song set with a lot of enthusiasm but offer little in the way of
innovation.
Sure,
the musicianship is fine and the production sounds expensive, but where
are the songs? Where’s the conviction?
Mr
DeMaio would be well advised to hire some competent A&R people.
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