Posted on: February 1, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The clarity in which Provoked start out their “Night of the Livid Punks” really seems to show a different sound than was present in their “Infant in the Womb of Warfare”. New vocalist Kerri has a different sound to eir vocals that really seem sedate in wake of Scaba’s work, which are bolstered well when a second or third vocalist joins in . In fact, the stylistic change in regards to the instruments tends to draw Provoked away from the general sound promoted by the Profane Existence bands and into something closer to GMM Records (Patriot, Ducky Boys). The one thing that can be said about Provoked is that they do come forth with a differing method of assault between these two albums, instead of trying to milk a specific style to its conclusion.

The simple arrangements of the bass lines during “Beatin’ Around The Bush” adds a certain amount of confidence and authority that just are not to be found with arrangements that rapidly grow more chaotic. By “Lumbergh Fucked Em!”, Provoked has decided to change up their style again, this time choosing to excite listeners with an nuanced (yet still speedy) sound that will have listeners focused in more on the interplay of instruments rather than any one constituent part. Each track seems to draw a little more on the track that preceded it, so there is a nice feeling of cohesion (and the necessary experimentation) throughout the entirety of the disc. What really becomes a treat during “Prepare For The Cold” is when another set of vocals join in with Kerri; this has the benefit of breaking up the oft-similar sound of Kerri’s screaming and really allows Kerri to do different things with eir vocals (just take “Discarded Lives”, which has Kerri do a vocal breakdown and nearly speak out a line or two before assuming eir normal role on the disc.

The incorporation of even more styles than on the previous album shows a band that can even take aural hints from the guitar work of bands like Bad Religion while throwing on five or six different levels of their own creation (“Old World Traits”). Finishing off the disc with the spastic sounds of “Mad Heads Collide”, Provoked show a nice amount of musical growth that is coupled with a maintenance of much of the sound and fury that made “Prepare For The Cold” such a memorable album. The fact that there was a lineup change between album may make the band sound a little different, but Kerri succeeds in all senses of the term on this album.

Top Tracks: Mad Heads Collide, Beatin’ Around The Bush

Rating: 8.1/10

Provoked – Infant in the Womb of Warfare / 2005 Profane Existence / 10 Tracks / http://www.angelfire.com/band/provoked / http://www.profaneexistence.com / Reviewed 11 October 2005

[JMcQ]

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