When given a choice of bands to review, the ridiculously monikered Fuck Udders immediately appealed to the not-so-dormant potty-mouthed teen in me. Here, the ‘Udders’ present two EPs released on Rivet Gun Records. With both EPs clocking in at around six minutes, a free jazz/prog-rock workout is clearly not on the menu.
The charmingly named ‘Shithead’ kicks off the first, self-titled offering, with a no holds barred industrial/math-metal groove, and whispered treated vocals. Second track ‘Rocky the Spy Dog’ continues along the same musical vein, with a little more variation in tempo. Despite this, it feels a little too much like more of the same. Still, with both tracks being under four minutes long, Fuck Udders manage to pack in enough energy and creativity to hold the attention.
‘…Have Seen The Future And Don’t Like What It Looks Like’ starts up with ‘Flesh Puppet’. This powerful chugger shows a little more growth, imagination and fully-formed ideas than the first EP. It powers along with undecipherable treated vocals, an industrial, metal groove and interesting powerful soundscapes, especially in the rhythmic breakdown that closes the track. ‘Flesh Machine’ offers tempo changes and a groove that will suit the taste of fans of Ministry, Front 242 and Nine Inch Nails.
Tech metal, powerful grooves and dark, harsh EBM/agrotech influences are evident in both EPs. Despite the slightly one-dimensional sound, Fuck Udders’ cast-iron, utterly uncontrived abrasiveness is addictive, and does just enough to build curiousity about how an entire album would sound.