The bio info for Poland’s Mothra namechecks the likes of Burnt By The Sun, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Converge, and rightly so. The band’s mathematical metalcore certainly evokes those bands, as well as Meshuggah and more, with odd time signatures, some seriously angular riffs, and a heavy hardcore influence that sits neatly alongside equal parts sludge and grindcore. Thankfully, unlike records by some other mathcore types, Dyes doesn’t revel into sheer wankery, and with that in mind, Mothra stands higher in the ranks of modern metalcore than most. (The Gojira reference is also a bit apt, in both name and sound, but I’ll avoid it since 9 out of 10 evaluations of Mothra make the “Mothra v. Gojira” joke. I’ll beat some other dead horse somewhere else, thank you.)
Highlights in this particular fray include the sludge-y, near-stoner “Octarine” and the staccato Meshuggah-isms of “Bleen.” There’s also a lengthy pause at the end of “Fullgin B,” after which a “hidden” track comes in to wrap up the proceedings in pretty blistering grindcore fashion. Not sure if that untitled track is a cover or not, but it’s simpler than those around it, and regardless, it totally rips and should not be overlooked. Dyes is only 27 minutes long, and it’s a rare record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and so for that, as well, I applaud it.
Selfmadegod has put out many quality grind records that have found their way into my collection (by the likes of Antigama, Wojczech, Catheter, Neuropathia). In fact, Dyes is the first and only non-grind release from this label that I’ve run across. Even though metalcore isn’t typically my bag, I dig what Mothra brings to the table—there’s a brutality of sound and a violence of riff here that tends to get lost in modern metalcore’s Gothenburg infatuations. As such, as a sometime fan of earlier non-douchebag-infested metalcore, I’ve found myself returning to Dyes of my own volition fairly frequently of late, and that’s truly the biggest compliment that a reviewer can pay a record. Dyes is worthy of a listen, for sure, and likely a must for anyone interested in metalcore done properly, sans eyeliner and lady-britches…
