Molten Imp - "Double Dose (Me)" EP Review!!

It's now time our our 145th monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, and we have another new release to look at this month, namely new local noise/industrial metal solo project Molten Imp's debut paid single "Double Dose (Me)"! Independently released to their Bandcamp page on May 28th, this is a single on the surface (only two songs representing "side A" & "side B" are streamable for free), but paid downloads include two bonus tracks, so this is more of a covert EP in content. Self-produced and mixed, it was mastered only by Dustin Goodall at Unsalted Audio. Molten Imp's only publically credited member is former AlgomA singer/guitarist Boyd Rendell (a.k.a. Darby Wigwaus), marking his first paid musical release since AlgomA & Shit Liver's split cassette tape "Trading Faces" in 2017. "Double Dose (Me)" is available for $4 on Bandcamp as a digital download, which is the only way you can hear all four tracks, so keep that aspect of the single in mind.

With four songs running for over 11 minutes in length, let's begin this review with the first track, "Double Dose (Me)/Steeltonia"! Both of the two public songs have two titles like that, FYI, but only this one has a full break that could hint at the titles being separate songs. This track slowly ascends from a techno/electronica track into more of an aggressive noise metal song about 2 minutes in, complete with Boyd screaming, if with more processing and not as full-throat as we saw with his live bands. The music in offer is more electronic based than metal, with lots of feedback and distortion early, though the percussion feels a little too robotic. At 3:47, the apparent "Steeltonia" section begins, and it's just a cascade of ominous noise to end "side A". Heavy yet not all at once, the first song sets the tone well for Molten Imp's hybrid sound, especially if you like industrial and noise rock!

"Side B" is the slightly longer "Rusted Hinges/News At 11:11", which opens up in much heavier and distorted territory, with lots of ominous vocals layered in the background, plus some occasional beeping. It's certainly moshable but it can take some sifting to separate the instruments, aside from the pounding percussion. Though there's not a complete break, the last two minutes again signifies a musical shift, so if this is "News At 11:11", the song is more of an industrial techno piece with a catchy percussion line and sort of an upbeat factory nature to the music. Honestly, this kind of feels like it'd fit well as the background music in a beat 'em up video game, though I'm sure that was intended. Entertaining track(s) for what it is/they are, and metalheads will get their fix early! This is where "Double Dose (Me)" ends for free streamers, but if you bought it, what are the bonus tracks?

The extra songs are entitled "Beat I" & "Beat II", and run for 16 and 18 seconds apiece. "Beat I" is just a percussive bass beat with some Christmasy jingling in the background, while "Beat II" is faster, less predictable, and has a little more distortion on the beats (and no jingling). For me, "Beat I" is catchier, but "Beat II" feels more like part of a full song. Are these worth buying "Double Dose (Me)" to get? That's subjective, but they certainly didn't hurt as freebies, especially if you're more of a drum-and-bass fan!

So what are my final thoughts on Molten Imp's debut paid single? It's a short listen, but it's an interesting and creative genre hybrid that makes a solid first impact! Compared to their free one-off singles before this, the songs on "Double Dose (Me)" definitely have more of a metal aspect, but rather than go the obvious route or just relive AlgomA's run, Boyd seems to be deconstructing the genre here, mashing up metal song elements with industrial and noise music on the two primary singles. Do I have a song preference? I'd say the title track is more tuneful and catchy for my liking, and benefits from screamed vocals, but the all-noise "Steeltonia" didn't do a whole lot for me. "Rusted Hinges" certainly is the heaviest song half on offer, but it's not as catchy as "News At 11:11", which is more of an electronic song. Still, it works while it lasts, and shows more of Molten Imp's diversity!

The two short "Beat" tracks don't hurt things as a bonus, but they're not essential to the experience. As my musical tastes go, Molten Imp aren't dead center, but this is an interesting first single, and I'm curious to see what kind of experimental paths Boyd goes with next in their future releases! Buy or stream "Double Dose (Me)" at the above links, and I hope you guys liked this month's CD review! So, what are we reviewing on the site next month? I'm not sure, but check our next "Where Are The New Albums?" post next week for ideas on upcoming albums that could be next. If nothing new comes out from a local hard rock, metal, or punk act, we'll dip into the archives, but our 6 month anti-bias buffer period remains in effect, so don't expect Molten Imp, Late & Loud, Slumshine, or Swampgut to be next in the event any of them have something new on sale in the month ahead.

Keep an eye out by August 31st in any event, and stay tuned for more news and notes on the site in the coming days! Thanks everyone!