Details: P.L.F. stands for Pretty Little Flower. Even if I had to make it up I doubt mine would have been this good. Anyone would be hard pressed to find a connection or relevance between their innocuous band name and the sort of violent music they play. Something however can be inferred from their album name. To spill the beans, it is about the illegitimate marriage of grindcore and thrash metal and probably the fury resulting from the late knowledge of that fact. Though admittedly bastardized, weak half-assed thrash+core P.L.F.'s music is not. If you don't approve of the fresh combination of old grindcore of respectable acts such as old Unseen Terror, Repulsion and Terrorizer and aggressive thrash of old Kreator, Tankard and Slayer, then surely you must be an aching bastard yourself. Grindcore of late has become repetitive and sonic speed no longer guarantees thrills. Using a shredding thrash approach to the grinding madness is not only refreshing, but it also lends to it an old school charm that you would associate with uncontrollable fun and good-natured panic. In effect, however, only the riffing style of speed/thrash metal is utilised, deriving from it just the required edge. It is not necessarily because of their minute-long song lengths that the elaborate structures, hooks and breakdowns of that genre do not really come into play; the music is way too fast and chaotic for all that: it is nearly blur-paced and headache-inducing noisy. Woefully, it also buries the roared vocals. If I had a time machine, I would specially take this CD with me back to the ‘80s and make the thrash fans in particular listen to it just to see the priceless expression on their faces.
There are a couple of covers of fine bands like Denak and Doom, and also an intro from an Unseen Terror song. As a bonus (I wouldn't like to call it filler), they have provided some of the split EP material with bands like Needful Things and Mesrine, songs 14-17 having a rawer and heavier sound. Live tracks have also been provided and for once they actually contribute to the value of the disc. The sound is clear and reasonably powerful, the songs are played with energy, emphasis is given to the catchy parts or so it seems, and the crowd is enjoying it. Result: good times.
With P.L.E. blurring the boundaries between the two genres, it may take a while for the traditionalists to get accustomed to their music, for they might feel the qualities of thrash genre in particular and what it all stood for getting molested; but if one is fond of chaos, as he should rightfully be, he should adapt to it quickly. Furthermore, the issue is not so much with the melding being lopsided as it is with the possibility of a better incorporation of the structures and execution of breakdowns of the lesser genre. Then again, if these maniacs want to grind with the fervour of thrash to smash skulls and furniture, so be it.
Price: 7 euro
Availability: mail us
