Molten Imp - "Frustfressenkummerspeck" EP Review!!

It's now time for our 159th monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, as we're taking a look at local industrial metal project Molten Imp's third digital 7'' single "Frustfressenkummerspeck"! Yes, that is the title, it's an artificial compound word made up of two German words for types of overeating. Released to their Bandcamp page on August 10th, this is their final single before their teased addition of members for live performances (see them opening for Garbageface on October 21st), but founder/frontman Boyd Rendell is the only credited performer here. Mixed and mastered in Peterborough by veteran local punk musician Mark Rand, the single only contains two songs period with no bonus tracks for paid buyers like we saw on "Double Dose (Me)" or "Constable Sewage". Boyd confirmed with me in a Facebook conversation that he had planned to get two more songs finished for the single, but they weren't up to his standards, so he just put out the two-track, seven minute single we have here.

In other words, ignore the now-erroneous reference to a "Track 4" on Bandcamp, these songs are all there is, but note that former Winkstinger/Twistory frontman Josh Amendola wrote the lyrics for both released tracks, albeit based on Molten Imp's own concept. You can buy "Frustfressenkummerspeck" for $6 on Bandcamp, but both songs are available to stream there for free as well (consider supporting Molten Imp in any event!) "Side A" of "Frustfressenkummerspeck" is the title track, which opens with what appears to be sampled dialogue of Fat Bastard from Austin Powers in The Spy Who Shagged Me (the single's title isn't just cosmetic). Arguably the heaviest song yet from Molten Imp, it makes good use of distorted bass and sampled drums, plus guttural death metal vocals that come off well enough for genre fans!

I'm used to Boyd's harsh vocals being much higher than this, so if that's him, good to see some extra range! This reminds me of tack you'd hear from a Blood Shed Productions act, if longer & refined, but the ending was too abrupt for my liking, and the guitar felt like an afterthought in the composition. Solidly pounding four minutes though, and worth a listen for fans of both death metal and drum & bass! "Side B" is via the song "Planetary Smegma Magma" (they titled it!), a sub-3 minute track that leans a little to Boyd's 2010s work in the local doom metal band AlgomA in the first half, albeit with sampled vocalizations, before breaking down into aggressive death metal once again, with the same vocal style as on the opener. If anything, this is faster, which will please extreme metal fans, but the project limitations are more apparent, especially with the lack of guitar emphasis and the obvious drum programming, not to mention another abrupt ending to the track.

Your mileage may vary, especially if you love drum & bass/techno music, but I think Molten Imp's sound fit the slower opener better. Still a solid track for what it is! So, what are my final thoughts on "Frustfressenkummerspeck"? Overall, this is absolutely the heaviest of Molten Imp's three virtual 7'' singles so far, which I do appreciate, but just for my own musical tastes, I'd up the metal content while keeping the industrial aspects as a compliment. The guttural vocals and more intense pacing are very welcome, and even if the lyrical concepts are a little unexpected, the lyrics Josh wrote fit the themes! Of the three virtual singles so far, this one will appeal most to fans of Boyd's prior local band work, especially those who miss AlgomA, with the industrial effects and samples adding some zest not often seen from other local acts.

That all said, the quiet guitar work, abrupt song endings, and increasingly obvious programmed drums were not always to my taste, and of course, the short length (be the planned two extra songs paid bonuses or not) will make this feel less substantial than the prior singles. Still, "Frustfressenkummerspeck" will deliver the goods for industrial metal fans in a city where that isn't a common sight, so buy or stream it for yourself above, and I hope you guys liked this month's CD review! Now, what are we reviewing on the site next month? For the first time since last year, I honestly don't know, as we've finally ran through our long list of major new metal, hard rock, and punk albums in the past year with nothing new left to look at (Sykotyk Rampage's two new albums aside, as they're still within our six month anti-bias buffer period from our review of "WYRD Radio 2" in July. So, what could be reviewed on the site in October?

A possible new album aside (look for our next "Where Are The New Albums?" post for ideas next week), if we have to dip into the archives, tie-ins with bands playing live would be preferred, and one possibility would be The Bear Hunters' single "Collapse The Sun", which came out on physical CDs in 2014, remains unreviewed on the SMS, and features Mitch Sirie & Johnny Belanger, who are both playing live next month with The Soo Fighters. Could be that, could be something else, we'll keep you posted, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews on the site net! Thanks everyone!