The High Density label puts together two label regulars for this split tape. The Bonus Beast side always feels like the much longer one, which I guess is saying something about my preferences. “Carbon Copy” confronts the listener with repetitive, processed and distorted guitar blasts that don’t seem to lead anywhere, even though they’re under threat of being buried by screeching electronic manipulation. Over the course of “Retirement Home II” and “Matter/Anti-Matter,” the rhythmic guitar infusions don’t subside but are pushed more and more into the background by sirens and thundering layers of electronics. If there are intervals between the three tracks mentioned on the (nicely made) insert card, I’ve failed to notice them. As it stands, I’d describe them as three different movements with one side-long track.

The Terrorish side, however, is the clear winner. Here, the textures are modified in development. “Elegance in Irreverance” moves from gurgling, stampeding rhythm to fast forward mayhem and oscillating static. “Incandescent Love Structure” starts off as an industrialized black metal track, complete with sirens tearing apart a massive tapestry of bass until they finally take over in a finale of indoor winds. Terrorish’s final and longest track, “Bona Fide Salvation Fiend,” returns to the harsher parts of the first track. It’s an all-in situation: there’s no wind anymore, only one massive, thickened storm that devours all other sonic interventions. Gone are all the hip hop and techno allusions that were present in Terrorish’s “Party Problems” tape (as reviewed a few months back); these three tracks are serious business, but Terrorish pulls off the noise nicely.

A mixed bag, then, but overall worth getting. 6 for Bonus Beast, 8 for Terrorish, which leaves us with 7/10 -- Jan-Arne Sohns (4 August, 2010)