Lake of Fire Memories

Warning: Turn the volume down a little bit before you pop this disc into your player, otherwise prepare yourself for an earsplitting assault. I’ve encountered all sorts of wall-of-sound approaches, from noise shows requiring earplugs to acoustic forays into aural chaos, but for some reason this CD seems really f-ing loud. Now then, with the audio at a comfortable level, enjoy the rush of spastic guitar licks that howling in quasi-unison with reed-biting sax squeals swathed in convulsing freak-outs from the drummer. As for stamina, the trio manages to keep the ruckus up for about two and a half minutes—respectable, but not exactly tantric.

—RN