Just like the use of instant replay in sports, the process of identifying musical subgenres mixed and matched by different bands has become such a complex, oftentimes exhausting exercise in hair-splitting, that one feels compelled to question whether such outrageous attention to detail actually contributes or detracts from the plain old entertainment of it all. Take Minnesotan trio
Ambassador Gun, who number elements of hardcore, grindcore, crustcore, death and thrash metal among the influences for 2012's
Golden Eagle. The band's sophomore album, and first for new label Prosthetic,
Golden Eagle hardly makes for easy listening (in more ways than one), it's true; but wouldn't you prefer to digest its persistent sonic devastation and vociferous screeds -- aimed at everyone from Jesus Christ ("Christbastard") to
Chris Brown (errr, "Chris Brown") -- without simultaneously having to micro-analyze the trace percentages of metal or punk that separate the utterly relentless numbers ("Sunshine Acid," "Circle the Lord of Flies") from the nearly-as-relentless ones ("Wounded Knee," "Warpainted," etc.)? Wouldn't it be easier -- and probably more enjoyable -- to merely recognize the fact that a large majority of tunes fall into the second column, therefore illustrating
Ambassador Gun's diverse songwriting inspirations and aspirations, even within such relatively brutal and misanthropic punk/metal templates? Try it:
Golden Eagle is much more fun that way, and
Ambassador Gun would probably thank you for it. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia