John Zorn - Salem, 1692, 2018
Lineup:
Trevor Dunn: Bass
Kenny Grohowski: Drums
Matt Hollenberg: Guitar
Julian Lage: Guitar
John Zorn seriously shreds when he doesn't even play on the album. Ever since the addition of the
Moonchild Trio into his repertoire, he seems to have picked up an even greater fondness for brutal prog, and his modern output is stuffed with such monstrosities.
Salem, 1692 is a straight prog-rock blitzkrieg delivered by a handful of master class musicians.
The album is an exercise in precision and ferocity, and rarely lets up the neck breaking tempo that prevails. There are occasional ventures into slower and more introspective territory defined by the usual jazziness and omnipresent chamber music elements.
The drums here are the MVP.
Kenny Grohowski assaults his kit with such determination and vigor it's surprising his arms manage to stay in their sockets. When we reach the half-thrash half-sludge blocky closer, he veritably tears his set a new one in a frenzy you could liken to a hyperspeed
Dale Crover.
High octane whiplash for the most part. Some of these fret board runs sound derivative, but it's still concise and extreme and an otherwise great listen.