Band:	Grip Inc.
Album:	Incorporated
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	March 16, 2004
Guest review by:	Passenger

01. Curse (Of The Cloth)
02. The Answer
03. Prophecy
04. Endowment Of Apathy
05. Enemy Mind
06. Skin Trade
07. (Built To) Resist
08. The Gift
09. Privilege
10. Blood Of Saints
11. Man With No Insides

Every musical genre ends up having musicians that earn general respect by everyone and a kind of untouchable reputation. In Metal one of those personalities is certainly Dave Lombardo, especially due to his work with Slayer. Yet, Grip Inc., the project he started after temporarily leaving the first, doesn't end there as Gus Chambers and Waldemar Sorychta [producer and ex-Despair] close the line-up.

Considering that this has so well known members, maybe the recognition hasn't been as big as it was to expect. Anyway "Incorporated" is already the fourth album, and what can be said about it? It's mainly in the same line as before, modern Thrash sound in songs with quality technical execution in all fronts, dense guitars, virtuous drums work and intense vocals. However, I think that what ends up being more the characteristic of this album is its experimentalism [not exactly new if you have been following them], always pleasant but often inopportune, sometimes even cutting the rhythm of the song.

The first five are powerful Thrash tracks, with special mention to 'Curse [Of The Cloth]', definitely the highlight of "Incorporated". It starts in a sinister mood and with a weird and deep moan behind Chambers' calm but tormented voice, but develops into some insane riffing in an enraged and groovy environment. Also, the drums in 'Endowment Of Apathy' are brilliant, but after all we are talking about one of the best drummers ever. 'Enemy Mind' is the first with something different, it has some unusual acoustic guitar details spread all over it and a totally unexpected Latin groove in the beginning! Cellos and an epic atmosphere make of '[Built To] Resist' the other big surprise on this album, but this time a truly remarkable one, the biggest achievement on this album in terms of adding something less conventional, with Gus Chambers at his best on the more melodic chorus. 'The Gift' shows the great coordination between Lombardo and Sorychta when both do solos at the same time in the middle of the track, heavy moment. Some discrete electronic details but those don't ruin the song. In fact they don't add or take anything. 'Privilege' has a very atmospheric start, but a bit too long. Some strings on this one too. 'Man With No Insides' is the worst point of this album. Inconsequent and boring with a dispensable alternative slow part in the middle.

In the end what stays about "Incorporated" is that it's a good album, with a fresh and diverse sound and intriguing details. An interesting proposal and even if you are not too keen on the experimentalism you still have dozens of Thrash minutes to do some damage on your neck. It's not "Power Of Inner Strength", but possibly the best they have done after that.