Ah, the Beautiful South. No, I'm not talking about the band that sprang out of The Housemartins. I'm talking about the Southern Tagalog region, home to, among other things like the semiconductor and automotive companies (that would be Laguna), a hotbed, not only of history, but of some of the sickest metal acts fans both local and abroad have laid ears on (the hardcore acts hailing from these parts do not disappoint, either). To someone like me who has not left the decrepit metropolis called the National Capital Region in recent memory, the fact that Cavite has produced bands like Deepsleep and Pus Vomit has been staggering, to say the least. Enter Toxemia, a five-piece alcoholic crew that has seen on-and-off activity since 2003. Their 2012 EP is up on the table right now. So, shall we take a look deep inside the belly of this, Cavite's Beast?
The minute you pop the disc onto your player, you are drawn into familiar drunken soundscapes, but ones cut from a coarser, more abrasive cloth (think of a cloth that you'd likely use to hogtie someone, gag and bludgeon to within an inch of his life). The mix of old-school death metal and grindcore goes down rough, even with the aid of strong drink. The recording adds to the cavernous experience, and business is done before you know it—with minimum fuss and maximum effect. Repeated spins warranted.
The six-track EP is bereft of any pageantry in presentation; who would need it here, anyway? Available in CD-R and cassette formats, the EP is set to maim more than please the senses. "Consciousness Expansion" and "Ihaw-Ihaw" are personal favorites, and the EP is proof positive that the Beast is alive in this town. Track this fucker down, get a really stiff, strong drink, and blast away...oh yeah, "Ihaw-Ihaw" will give you a craving for the munchies. You have been warned. [toxemia.cjb.net]
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