PRO-PAIN
ABSOLUTE POWER
AFM RECORDS
It’s hard to believe that Pro-Pain came from the Crumbsuckers, but it did and we must deal with that, then move on. Pro-Pain has gathered their forces once again this time to release Absolute Power a ten-track post-hardcore/groove metal album that does little more than touch the pre-set markers all bands who make this music touch upon. Like them or hate them Pro-Pain have always at least seemed dedicated to what they were doing, which is what makes the lack of trying in Absolute Power so surprising.
This is as an album for the uninspired, the guys who seem to want to go through the motions of being a band without really trying. I call it “Band As Job Disease” because that’s what it is. At some point the driving passion is gone and you’re left with being in a band because that’s what you’ve always done. Absolute Power feels like that declaration from Pro-Pain
Absolute Power is mosh-riff filled, breakdown heavy, high octane album that reminds me of a huge truck stuck in the mud. The album spins it’s wheels song after song but goes absolutely nowhere. Nothing is pushing the album forward here and in many cases the songs are so similar you wonder why Pro-Pain bothered at all.
Even the production seems to hold the band down by not allowing any real dynamics. Everything here has been mid-leveled to death causing the already ho-hum material to become even less enjoyable. The songs sound as if once they were recorded the band, engineer or producer decided to streamline everything into one constant sound. You can’t have groove, metal or otherwise, without dynamics, it just doesn’t work.
Pro-Pain do try and pull out all the standard bells and whistles for Absolute Power including riot vocals, choruses sung while lyrics are barked, tough guy stand up for yourself aggression songs, everything that guy outside the Circle K who says “Whatta you lookin at faggot” could want from a hardcore band. Is that who Pro-Pain is trying to reach? If so then maybe I’m looking at the album all wrong.
It seems based on the song titles and cover art that Pro-Pain were trying to make some “stand up against oppression” statement and fell way short of the mark. You can’t make an album to inspire thought and rebellion with songs that feel thrown together and sloppy. Either Pro-Pain don’t care anymore or they don’t see it but either way it’s clear their long journey should start wrapping up after Absolute Power.
There’s nothing on this album songwise to speak of because the tracks bleed together into one giant mosh-groove-meets-solo. There’s no diversity to the music, so if you love the opening track I guarantee you’ll love the closing one. For those who find this type of music awesome then Absolute Power is for you, for those of us looking for more you might want to skip it. Whatever the case it’s clear that Pro-Pain have decided to punch a clock as opposed to create art.
CRAVEONLINE RATING: 6 OUT OF 10
