Cutthroats 9

Album review

A triumphant return to form by noise rock pioneer -- and Unsane's inveterate founder -- Chris Spencer, Cutthroats 9's debut disc (having previously issued a single on Reptilian Records) is a concussive, brutal piece of work. Essentially, this is Unsane with a different drummer. Given that, it's quite apparent why Cutthroats 9 -- named after a particularly violent western film -- marches the same basic firepath. Having relocated to San Francisco after Unsane's final days, Spencer imports the hardcore noise trademarks of N.Y.C.'s Lower East Side and dirties it to hell with a looser, more groove-oriented ammo dump of straight-time rock. Like Unsane's early years with drummer Charlie Ondras, Cutthroats 9 privileges a rhythmic openness not apparent on Unsane's material with Vinny Signorelli behind the kit. Such breathing space allows Spencer's stomp-box distorted Fender adequate time and context to screech and moan with a grimy, roughed-up twang. The vocals are fraught with bile and warning, from the harrowing "You Should Be Dead" to the dark blues work of "Can't Do a Thing."
© Patrick Kennedy /TiVo