Superjoint - Caught Up In The Gears Of Application (Housecore Records) 2016
8
Thirteen years after the unfortunate discontinuation of Superjoint Ritual, the band has finally returned for their long-awaited third album. With the same severity, grit, anger, and speed as they possessed in the 2000s, Caught Up in the Gears of Application picks up right where the group left off. Perhaps one of the only major differences is the two new members, Joey “Blue” Gonzalez and Stephen Taylor, who play in Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, joining founders Kevin Bond, Jimmy Bower and Phil Anselmo.
Incorporating their typical metal and sludge, this record possesses notes of hardcore punk more than ever before. Anselmo’s vocals are brutal, raw and punishing. Lyrically, the overriding themes regarding technology are obvious; “Clickbait,” one of the faster-paced tracks, brings to mind the countless articles written about his incident at Dimebash earlier in the year and “Sociopathic Herd Delusion,” in title alone, is a standout. The unrefined quality of the album adds to its appeal; the imperfection and roughness are essential, as Superjoint is a band that thrives on chaos in one form or another. Moving past the past, Superjoint have affirmed their return with a savage record that takes each member’s strengths and integrates them into a merciless hurricane of sound.