Senseless Theories

Life can be a lemon and shit happens everyday. Therefore some pretty promising bands fell and still fall by the wayside. Indestroy never came back after "Senseless Theories" , even though the mini album documented an interesting evolution. The band still played thrash metal, but the songs have more substance, they come directly to the point and fillers do not show up. This might be an effect of the short playtime, because Indestroy were able to concentrate on six strong pieces instead of recording a full-length no matter what the cost. Two tracks of their debut really kicked asses ("U.S.S.A." and "Dead Girls") and their position remains untouched by the here presented pieces. Nevertheless, the entire material of "Senseless Theories" is convincing without surprising with any type of extraordinary elements. For example, the more or less hateful vocals leave a good impression, but they do not impress with an overdose of charisma. The only atypical detail is the strange artwork. I still do not know what a classic orchestra has in common with the music of Indestroy.

The compositions spread a dark aura, the occasionally bulky riffing possesses somehow negative vibrations and some high-speed parts do not lack aggression, sharpness and poison. It's a pity that a few number of breaks affect the flow of the diversified songs. Despite its very intensive, wild and fast-paced sequences, "Terminal Choice" must be mentioned in this context. However, the strongest riffs on this album are delivered by the openers of both sides. "Tortured by Fire" also scores with its intro-like beginning and a certain depth during the instrumental part, while the title track culminates in an explosive chorus that surprises with the charm of a firing machine gun. But details aside, the five regular tracks and the rather atmospheric instrumental "Sam the Butcher" with its tolling bells build form no outstanding or unique, but a quite strong unit. Moreover, this vinyl sounds much better than its predecessor. "Senseless Theories" has a solid and competitive sound which combines clarity with penetrating power. It fits the down-to-earth approach of the musicians from Maryland very well.

I am not familiar with the reasons why the actually talented thrash division disappeared after the release of this decent EP. The vinyl does not sound like an album of old and tired men. What would have happened without the self-chosen withdrawal of the band? Maybe Indestroy would have been the upright thrashing horde that would not have bowed down to the pretty despicable zeitgeist of the early nineties. Or they would have been the ones that would have kidnapped every so-called musician of the more or less totally useless grunge scene. Or, another possibility, the dudes would have bought every record company in order to stop the confused industry from promoting and distributing this stupid music style from Seattle. But perhaps all these crude thoughts are just a special form of senseless theories.

Indestroy's self-titled 1987 debut album is just one of those charming little numbers that claws away at your memory until you concede defeat and offer it the reverence of the ages, placing it upon your 2nd tier thrash pedestal, below the greats, but loftily elevated above and beyond so much of the genre that would follow in the ensuing decades. One of the true highlights of the entire New Renaissance roster, Indestroy was a crude and admittedly low budget recording, but that hasn't stopped it from acquiring a cult immortality status within my record collection. The production only made it that much more endearing...

However, that album would not be the last for the Maryland ragers, who issued the Senseless Theories EP through Restless Records a few years later. The sound here is a little sharper, lacking some of the muddied and laconic feel of the guitar tone on the full-length, but it's also clearer, and the band has not changed its approach to writing simple, effective thrash with fairly catchy chops and the atmosphere conjured by Mark Strassburg's filthy, almost crossover vocal style. One exception might be the slightly more technical embellishments to the guitar riffs. A good example of this would be the Destruction-like passage in the latter half of "Tortured by Fire", or the chorus of "Instant Insanity", but this is more of an exception than the rule.

With a few more tracks tossed on the end, this could have been a full-length itself, and a good one, if not the equal of its predecessor. Most of the songs here summon forth at least a few good riffs, and in some cases, superb riffs. The evil, wiry grooves of "Living in Filth" and the hostile Slayer/Possessed surge of title track "Senseless Theories" both come to mind, but these are not alone. "Instant Insanity" is a frenetic, pacemaker-busting piece with solos flying off the hook and some eerie weight to the chords and effects beyond the 2:00 mark. "Terminal Choice" and "Sam the Butcher" are worthy enough to be in this company, but not the more memorable tracks found here.

There's nothing senseless about this material, though it doesn't quite live up to the more primal and entertaining debut. I wasn't about to run around howling these songs out loud as I once did with "U.S.S.A" or "Dead Girls (Don't Say No)". However, this is far, far better than the band drummer Gus Basilika and vocalist/guitarist Mark Strassburg would later form, the doom oriented Wretched, whose name was all too fitting, though they managed to score a deal with Hellhound regardless. Senseless Theories won't blow your mind, but it's at least quality thrash from a state that produced very few such bands, being known more for its death and doom scenes.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Two years after the debut on full length, this obscure band called Indestroy, came back with the last effort of their unfortunately short career. Senseless Theories is the last sign of life by this band and it takes form of an EP made of six songs that follow the same line of the ones on the debut album. So, expect more thrash metal and good songwriting by a band that fell into the abyss of the forgotten realities too easily without having deserved it.

Let’s start from the opener obviously. Since the first mid-paced tempo parts, we can notice that the production is clearer than in their debut and all the instruments have an ultra polished sounds. The volumes are a bit low but the band is quite compact at playing, showing several, fast switching of tempo parts and good passages on the borderline between the progressive thrash and some more canonical elements to fill the sound with the deserved anger and speed. The technique level is quite high and the songwriting is compact and strong. The vocals are never too extreme and they are quite common but never weak. They are simply thrash metal, so quite raw but also more melodic in some points.

“Living in Filth” shows several speed metal oriented riffs and fast tempo changes. The stop and go parts are really precise and well executed and the powerful, clear-cut drumming sustains everything. We can notice some more progressive parts again. They are well-done and they add something more personal to the sound. They were present on their debut album too. A credit should be given to the guitars work because it’s fantastic in speed, precision and execution, both during the rhythmic parts and the solos. “Terminal Choice” is the perfect example of how this band is good at the out-of-the-blue tempo changes. The up tempo parts are really impulsive and also quite primordial if we want, but when they decide to turn more technical, the skills are displayed clearly.

The title track is mostly mid-paced and we can enjoy some good guitars duets with more melodies and some progressive parts. When the tempo increases, the impulsivity is a bit let to emerge. The solo is more melodic and various. “Sam the Butcher” has a bells intro and features slow, dark arpeggios on the electric guitars. It’s an instrumental track to prepare us for the blasting assault of “Instant Insanity” that once again shows very raw up tempo parts, reminiscent of the first wave of the hardcore/crossover genre and bands like D.R.I. and Cryptic Slaughter. As always, the mid-paced tunes are more progressive and technical.

Overall, I like this follow-up too. What lacks here, like in the biggest part of these underground albums, is the catchiness or the well stuck refrain. It’s a bit difficult to remember the songs very well even if their technical and quite mature. Even the riffs are very good but not so catchy. I don’t know if I’m able to give you the right feeling…I hope so. By the way, it’s a good but sadly forgotten album that worth a mention and a listen.

Well I just got this a few weeks ago and I'm very happy I did. When I saw it on ebay I didn't really know Indestroy, I heard maybe one song. It was only 4 bucks! So I decided to buy it. This album is fast, raw, heavy thrash. The riffs are very good, if a litte chaotic at points.

Tortured By Fire - Starts off with a mid paced chug riff, like old Morbid Angel and not as crappy. The main riff is really cool. The chorus has a decent lick in it. The solo is kick ass shredding. One of the best on this album. 8/10

Living In Filth - Another chug riff intro. The chorus has an almost punk chord progression, which if you like punk is cool. The thrash breakdown could be better but it's pretty cool. Another shredding solo. This is a good song just a little to similar to Tortured By Fire. 6.5/10

Terminal Choice - Very cool intro that builds up to a thrash riff. This is a very fast song with some very nice lead licks. It's got a solo that isn't shredding, it's more melodic. I really like the vocals on this song, they are very well delivered and fit perfectly. Best song on here. 8/10

Sensless Theories - The raspy vocals kind of layer the rhythm which is cool. This song isn't as fast as Terminal Choice. The harmonized solo adds some originality to the song. 7/10

Sam The Butcher - Starts off with a bucnh of bells that gets annoying. Then it picks up into a doomy riff, different but good. That riffs builds up in speed and volume to create a pretty powerful section, but then its over. They should have recorded some vocal with this it would have made it much better. 6/10

Instant Insanity - Has a cool bouncing riff, and the drums are very good. When it slows down is when it gets good. The lyrics weird me out, and the Slayer-ish off key whammy bar crap is annoying, but it's only for a few measures. 6.5/10