Within The Ruins
Phenomena II – MNRK Heavy
Would the postman like it? This is the new way we measure things around our way. Seriously! Yer man blasts Lorna Shore while delivering letters. Makes receiving bills through the mail much more bearable. And yes – he’d bloody love ‘Phenomena II’. Here’s what you need to know. There are comic book character backstories to the songs. Within The Ruins have been about for two decades. They are seven albums in. So there’s plenty that could be discussed. Lyrics to be analysed. That sort of thing. But track after track, the jaw-dropping power and ferocity both instrumentally and vocally of ‘Phenomena II’ are all that matter. This album is utter pulverisation. Within The Ruins are limitless in their music. The bonkers (that’s the technical term) sounds the instruments make, the hissing backing vocals, the melodic breaks, the grooves and the riffs are a treat. Get the painkillers in and turn it up – ‘Phenomena II’ is a welcome headache waiting to happen.
Review by Jo Wright