January 8, 2008 | | 3

Danny Tanner, The Finest Grind

What sort of message are you trying to send by naming your band after the geeky patriarch of the late 80’s sitcom “Full House?” Well if you’re Pete Colucci (vocals) and Chris Netta (guitars) you’re saying that you simply don’t give a shit and are willing to use a little tongue and cheek to get your message heard — oh and a healthy dose of grinding death doesn’t hurt.

Combining their experience performing for several years in several separate acts, the two New Jersey natives have mixed a variety of grindcore and death metal with sampling from commercials, film and more. Colucci’s vocals sit primarily in the deep, guttural range, but he does stretch his range throughout The Finest Grind‘s 12 tracks. Netta contributes with raw, shredding guitar work that compliments Colucci’s vocal work well. The duo split programming duties adding blasting drums, samples and sound clips.

If there’s a weak point in the album (and there is albeit small), it’s the programming. On occasion the drums have a disconnected and disjointed feel, leaving the two guys hanging out there in the breeze. Aside from timing and syncing issues, this is actually an album with plenty to enjoy for the grind fan looking for something a little more on the lighter side, yet brutal as well.

897 Fugitives
The opening track starts with crunching riffs and a long, deep growl. This slowly building monster of a track picks up pace around the :45 mark through a muddy production that works to the band’s benefit.

Beheaded Victim
After a brief sound clip interlude Colucci and Netta get back at it with messy (in a good way) guitar work and guttural growls. The duo throw sound clips in here and there throughout the track leaving the listener a little off balance as the duo hit with more timely blasts from the drum machine and guitars. There are several tempo shifts and faster-than-all-get-out drumming in the second half of the track.

The Running Monk
Again the two don’t waste any time unloading a pile of grinding death on your plate. Chaotic guitar work and deep guttural growls attack relentlessly. The track slows a bit around the one minute mark before a large growl and simplified riffing kick back in.

An International Fried Chicken Ambassador
Strong guitar work starts this one off as Colucci comes in with a nice cadence of growls and barks. This one has some of the more creative and well played guitar work from Netta and works in the programed drums well. There’s an odd bit of piano/keyboard work for about a minute that seems a bit out of place and finished out the track.

Dr. Millionaire
Guitar noise and sound clips get “Dr. Millionaire” going before the vocals kick in. Colucci does a nice job on this one bringing in different vocal styles with a more cleanly presented shout in conjunction with his guttural, indecipherable growls. More sound clips end the track.

A Grin Of Disgust
The first 15 seconds of “A Grin Of Disgust” is a grinding assault on every sense possible. It’s got an odd sound/production change at the 20 second mark that sounds like it’s a couple of takes poorly sliced together — that could be my ears playing trick on me though. For a majority of the track the duo settle into a slowly churning mass of chaos as the track fades out.

Work Of God
Once you get pass the 20 second sound that starts this one off, you’re in for a treat of grinding evil. Layered vocals and creative guitar work really make this one a standout song for me.

Tunnel AVisios
I love the opening to this one with the exception of the vocals. They’re a bit hidden behind everything else in the mix, but at only 39 seconds in length they aren’t hidden for long.

That Certain Aspect
There’s a good deal to enjoy in this next song. Chugging riffs, guttural vocals and layered screams all combine with rapid fire drum programming to create a gem of a track. Throw in a good minute and a half of light guitar work to lighten the mood (letting Netta showcase his abilities a bit more) and you have a varied track.

Overwhelming Profit Margins
More chaotic guitar work is dominant in this one as Netta plays with different styles throughout the song. This one has some incredibly, almost unbelievably, fast drum programming in it.

Nonexistent
The second longest track on the album, “Nonexistent” starts out with a bit of ambient noise before Colucci lets loose with a big growl. I love the riffs that start around the 20 second mark as the vocals really get going. This is most well structured track on the album and, aside from the vocal levels, is one of my favorite pieces of music on the disc.

1/16
The final track is a chaotic, grinding mess of riffs, noise and growls. It’s the perfect way to end the disc — loud, obnoxious and fun.

~ ~ ~

This is one of those discs that you go into with a certain mindset. It’s meant for the grind fan that’s already got too much political commentary and social diatribes in his music. Danny Tanner’s The Finest Grind is a tongue in cheek, grinding, noisy affair and should be seen as such. So pop that bitch in the player and enjoy.

Favorite Tracks:
897 Fugitives
The Running Monk
An International Fried Chicken Ambassador
That Certain Aspect
Nonexistent

Additional Notes:
n/a