Alcoholic Death Noise

Cirrhosis have been around since the late 80s, though they got around to releasing their debut album in 2002, yet this is a release that doesn't entirely carry its own weight. At points, they play a thicker death metal form that goes for that older, more heinous sound Brazil was spouting in the mid-late 80s. From the title alone, good ol' Sarcofago comes to mind. Yet, the music unravels itself with more characteristic parts of their own ilk as the album unravels. There are some slower sections that can resemble a band like earlier Autopsy, and some acoustic and clean bass parts that go for more atmosphere as well. And some simplistic keyboards are used at specific points during these areas as well.

The digitalized production and the programmed drums are a throw off though. They include the usual gadgets: double bass and cymbal fills to keep beat. At points the programmed drums can be a distraction, but when the vocals, bass and drums make head-way it can be hardly noticeable. On 'Welcome to Miseries' there is a point where I what?!ed my own speakers. They programmed the drums with some kind of on-going tom roll to just fill a few certain slower parts. Yet, who is going to congratulate them on a smooth simulated drum set that has 10 different tom drums. It just struck me as odd, like who's drum set are they simulating, Neil Peart's?

The guitars sleep in the same bed as chug and its breath smells just as bad in the morning. On a few songs this heaviness factor can become monotonous, especially since they just come right out with it at moments. Occasionally it takes more than just a deeply tuned guitar and chunky distortion to sway listeners. Granted the album fortunately works on a positive side with a few songs in this manner as well. Some of their slower sections are gradual and wait till the right moments for explosive tendencies, and at others for atmospherics. 'Eye for an Eye' sticks out as a flowing song in this regard. It alternates between the vocals shining and then the guitars and bass having their moments, while moving around in varying degrees of pace. One of the longer tracks, 'Beyond the Slavery of Sin,' is a song that grabs your attention for its entire duration. Also using those reverb sounding clean guitars mixed with electric, displaying swaying tunes that hold the songs water to not give a potentially unwanted still-birth. The vocals for the most part use a growl, at one state more monotone and at others more distinguishable depending on the section. Like they can impact a moment and at another area be there more for effect.

Alcoholic Death Noise from first glance appears like a nearly exact replica of that out-of-control period in Brazil in mid-late 80s. Yet, it has its influences and then its own moments within. The particular style within itself isn't something that is mind-blowingly original. But there are moments that protrude. Some of their clean guitar and bass parts might be unexpected towards the later part of the album and I think for the most part are a good addition. The pace can situate itself anywhere from fast to slow and anywhere in between. A problem that can get in the way with Cirrhosis's output is its stale sounding digitalized production and the too-loud-for-its-own-good drum machine. Some faster parts cut out the guitars and have that overbearing fake sounding snare that can drive you up the wall. Also I think when they try and actually go for that 'heavy' sound it doesn't fit the bill and makes them look standard. If you find that the price is right for Alcoholic Death Noise, then have a few uneven drinks with your friends in Cirrhosis.