Mehkago N.T. - Massive Fucking Headwounds

After my recent enforced break, due to work commitments, I thought it was only fair to kick things off with a grind album. This is my penultimate To Live A Lie Records review and features Floridian band Mehkago N.T.

These guys started raging in 2006 and features members of notable grind band Shitstorm and hardcore band Hardware Youth. This LP was released in July 2011.

Tracklist -

1. Body Snatchers
2. Left To Rot
3. Void
4. Strictly Stock
5. The Family International
6. Walking Target
7. Crustfund Youth
8. A Deguello
9. Tremenda Cagason
10. Greyman

As the LP title suggests, this record will create a massive fucking headwound, due to the awesome hardcore/grind racket that Mehkago N.T. make. After a short sampled intro, Body Snatchers; comes and go's like speeding bullet, with angry vocals, fast guitars and even faster drumming. Left to Rot gives your more to bang your head to. The music is heavy and downtuned, but with a more hardcore influence, it seems to last longer than your usual grind song. Definitely worth it!

It was probably unfair if me to badge Mehkago N.T. as a grind band, as when Void kicks in with chuggier riffs and a grooving drum rhythm, their music seems un-categorisable. They do still pound hammer blow after hammer blow of subtle fastcore, but this is used sparingly so you don't get tired from circle pitting a hole into your floor!

I personally prefer the slower more throughout approach to heavy music, and the doom influences on show that there is still immense crossover within extreme metal. Strictly stock is a perfect example of this. The Family International is one of the pacier tracks these guys put out, and it's over all too quickly. The production of the record makes it sound like there are about ten drum kits being played at once. Then again that may just be my hearing after an earphone related mishap earlier in the week.

The vocals at the start of Walking Target hint at death metal, before Mehkago N.T. launch back into their hardcore infused thrash attack. The guitars are competing with the drums and vocals through the record, but when all together it's a ferocious joy to behold. Crustfund Youth is a sub two-minute smash to the goolies. The kind that hurts for days! The sound of the snare and the cymbals keeping pace, keeps you head wind milling (which is hard for me, as I have short hair so I just look like an idiot).

A Deguello sounds huge. The opening riffs herald in a mid-paced hardcore track full of expletives and anger, just as it should be. It strangely reminds me of that collab between Anthrax and Public Enemy, at least before the gang vocals and fastcore kick in. Tremenda Cagason starts where A Deguello left off, at a similar pace and an urgency that segues into another mid-paced section. I really like the effect that Mehkago N.T. have gone for as it's very at odds with what I was expecting. Even though the songs are all sub-two minute, there's plenty of variation and ideas throughout, making Massive Fucking Headwounds a really enjoyable listen.

It's not over quite yet though! Greyman is their last surface to air missile and it features some absolutely insane noise that rounds out the album in chaotic, bewildering fashion. As I've said above, this album surprised me a lot. I try and approach albums with an open mind, but when things are thrust at you it can be easier to make snap judgements. Thankfully though this album grabs those judgements and smashes them to a pulp. It reminds me why I do this and why I love heavy music. Thanks guys!

To Live A Lie Records have been cool enough to post this entire album for streaming on their bandcamp page. Listen to it below:-

Head over to To Live A Lie Records at http://www.tolivealie.com/ to find out where you can pick this up from and also drop by Mehkago N.T.'s own Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mehkago-NT to say hi.