Review: SEBORRHEA “Different Segments of Human Life” – Protect your Hair and Ears

Latvians seem to enjoy beer and …grind! That was what I found out when I visited “Baltic Bizarre Fest” in Riga: two local acts sounded true and nasty grind style. However, in fact, the present review will be not about the event. Here I’ll make efforts to introduce the Latvian grinders SEBORRHEA and their ugly creation “Different Segments of Human Life”.

Vilnius lacks a normal bombproof. And what about Riga? Actually, SEBORRHEA’s album starts with “speaking” sirens indicating that it is high time to hide from a dangerous raid! But your ears yearn for plugs as electronical and industrial sounds as well as various rough effects accompanying sirens treat your ear-drums ruthlessly. Vibrating, screaming, growling and finally grunting vocals in the second track seem to be affected by a certain machine providing unnatural yet original sound. The humoristic face of the band appears in the third composition “Happy Delivery” where grind elements simply turn into humming… similar to motives of Russian folk songs. A really nice crack, isn’t it? The tracks creates good and makes one even laugh. Like me, despite that I am not into grind sound very much and sometimes I even do not understand what the style is about.

The title of the next composition points to moan, groan and other physiological sounds. One is hearing straight-out drive, howl, funny grunt again and also … piping! A heavy party both to guys and to listeners, believe me. And all tracks were rather different. What’s next?

Further it is worth to state that SEBORRHEA’s guys play technically although one should not try too hard to understand what the tracks are about perhaps. “Brain impulsive grind”? You may also find signs of ultra brutal death metal so fans of the style could hear something allied to them. The next track “Get Acquainted – the Opposite Sex” should ensure pleasure, is fast and steady. Strange to say, the 7th composition is a good example of technical and catching death metal. Even providing a few hints to thrash metal despite all in all grindy vocals, such primeval and “sweet”. The track of wild tempo, full of yowl and belch can heavily be followed up. The next one is very similarly devilish but also with good riffs, changing tempos and various motives. So hard, so good… so what?

The 10th song starts with an allusion to melodic death metal, continues with a touch to the sound like OPETH and finishes with rough, both grindy and deadly vocals. “Madness”, isn’t it? The combination of symbols “– ∞ +” means savage and angry sound but in places comparable with CYNIC or ATHEIST. It is an interesting result, if not so strange and unusual. The next composition is even more amusing. “…Uploading External Error” reminds of oriental motives but in general it sounds like a mix of electronic noise – neither grind nor metal. The 13th composition is industrial with certain sonic effects. It is interesting and original, nevertheless, the one is quiet different if compared with the “normal” 7th song of the same title. The former I liked most of all in the whole album of SEBORRHEA. It is also one of the long lasting tracks. And the last one can really “damage your brain” because it is full of electronic/industrial ping, grind, roar and many other sounds. You count every second with the only thought: oh hell, when will this madness end? And the duration of it exceeds 3 minutes. Be careful for seborrhea! I’ll prompt that it is chronic inflammation of skin gland. One of the worst indications – falling out hair…

What is typical to grind, the duration of the album is only half an hour, and it contains 14 tracks. However, it is more than enough for a brain shake. Even though my rating of the album is not the highest, it can become cult for other ears. Who knows…

Rating: 7/10

SEBORRHEA “Different Segments of Human Life”
© “Trepanation Squad”, 2008

Time 30:22

1. …Downloading
2. Anal Marquis
3. Happy Delivery
4. Admirable, Marvellous Shit
5. Youthful and Possessed
6. Get Acquainted – the Opposite Sex
7. Dimension of Binary
8. Green Process
9. God of Pismire
10. Old Age Wisdom & Unconscionable Behaviour
11. – ∞ +
12. …Uploading External Error
13. Dimension of Binary [digital edition 1010011010] 14. Hyperactive Brain Damage