Harassor’s first full-length possesses a sound that is boldly divisive. It is the type of recording that will have most jumping for the Pause button within the first fifteen seconds. Those who stay most likely won’t be newbies, but those accustomed to the lo fi approach. It is harsh sounding, with an accent on the highs and a lack of low notes. At times, it feels like it was designed as some sort of masochistic device.  Stylistic leaning notwithstanding, this self-titled debut sounds like it was recorded anywhere but in a proper studio; clanky percussion and hissing cymbals, tubular guitar sound and raw distorted vocals. One wouldn’t be surprised thinking Harassor just  shipped this freshly from the bedroom and onto the pressing plant.  

Harassor’s execution is according. It is not that the band is sloppy. It is more that the musicians do not need to be tight to play this ilk of blackened hardcore punk. Without any ambitions to redefine the hardcore punk hybrid, or black metal for that matter, Harassor craft primitive music. Oftentimes, the songs start with feedback only to  move onto some of the most basic riffing this side of 2011. The first song “Marching Abomination” for instance, is centered around what seems to be  just a couple of notes. They are played ad nauseum but with solid 4/4 drumming and necro vocals they instantly recall a plethora of classics, from Hellhammer all the way to Japanese hardcore bands that never learned a thing about dynamics and a hundred demo bands that never had the impetus to move beyond that phase. 

Harassor surely aren’t for all metalheads. Which isn’t to say that they are only proper for a portion of the metal population. On cuts like the circular “Wretched Faith”, their metal of death seems to move onto noisier territories. Twice during this song do they accelerate and their music loses all resemblance of shape or form.  It is doom and metal of death. At all levels, the metallic and the not, their music is crudely written, recorded and presented. Considering that the band has been around since 2002 and that this full-length represents their fourth public outing it is probably safe to assume they are comfortable dwelling at this level; among those that dig the shit.  

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Written by Bobby Peru

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