Band:	Brainchoke
Album:	Introspective
Style:	Death metal, Grindcore
Release date:	July 07, 2008
A review by:	Baz Anderson

01. 2012
02. Learn The Hard Way
03. Leave This Place
04. IVth Time Lucky
05. Square One
06. Delusional Patriotism
07. Culture
08. Shocked
09. Blue Blood
10. Upward Spiral
11. Spiritual Medication
12. Crystal Clear
13. Eerectile Projectile
14. The Brainless And The Blind
15. 1st World Hypocrisy
16. Past Six Years

Brainchoke are the latest British export of extreme metal in the form of a death/grind hybrid. The band may have been around since 2000, but "Introspective" is the band's first full length outing with the help of underground label Grindethic.

The album does its job, in true grindcore fashion the average track length is probably around one minute long to help the listener digest this destructive onslaught in handy bite-sized portions. Problem is, some of these tracks are really catchy and groovy and as soon as we have found our rhythm we are whisked off onto the next song. Sure this makes for an exhilarating experience, just as I am sure it would to catch a glimpse of the top shelf magazines as your mother rushes you through the isle at a supermarket - but the point is the experience is over quickly.

There is no messing about here, no fluff, no fillers or pointless interludes, just straight down to business chunky death/grind. "Introspective" allows you no breathers until the end, and for a grind album the end never feels as close as it actually is. Indeed, the same monotonous racket going on can drag a bit, but it is hardly a double album opus.

Production is thick and sounds lovely, band performance is as required, these guys are undoubtedly talented, they only need to write something that will turn heads and not get lost in the universe of other death/grind bands that are all out there doing the same thing.

Brainchoke do a great job in getting their own style across, especially with tracks such as the swanky, almost Macabre-like attitude laden riff of "IVth Lucky Time" and manic brutality with "Delusional Patriotism" and the more sinister opener "Learn The Hard Way" that has a slightly blacker tone. On an album with so many tracks that unfortunately fly over the top of your head, these highlights really do stick out and make the album worth your attention for at least one run through. Go on, give 'em a go.