Band reformations have always been among the most dicey of propositions in the world of extreme music. The more seminal or legendary the band is considered, the more intense the pressure. Ridiculous amounts of hype and inflated fan expectations are the equivalent of playing with fire, and the possibility of irrevocably tarnishing a legacy or being branded a cash-in is always lurking over the shoulders of these bands, no matter how noble their intentions may be. Thankfully, UK punk/thrash overlords Amebix have kicked off the recorded aspect of their reunion with an EP that’s anything but subpar.
I often find re-recordings wholly unnecessary, but it’s hard to argue with how great the three tracks that comprise Redux sound. Although the production scheme is certainly more modern than the “classic” Amebix recordings (which sound more or less like they were performed inside a trashcan), Redux still maintains the booming, rough-around-the-edges quality that helped the band become godfathers of the crust punk genre (although they aren’t too happy about that particular achievement according to this interview). The synths are more noticeable this time around, and to be honest they’re a bit overpowering on “Chain Reaction” (along with the weird vocal effects). But aside from that the band has done an excellent job of keeping their sound intact. In fact, “Arise!” and “Winter” sound just as gnarly as they did back in the day, if not more so.
Aided by drummer Roy Mayorga (ex-Nausea, Stone Sour?!), founding members/brothers Rob “The Baron” and Chris “Stig” Miller churn out the debilitating, bottom heavy doom-punk Amebix is known for. The reason bands all over the world are still copying Amebix today, 25 years after Arise!, is because their sound is timeless. In this respect, the Baron and Stig have smartly decided only to make the most subtle of modifications and will hopefully keep this winning formula intact for their upcoming full length. The power remains.
THKD 