REVIEW: ING (SOUTH AFRICA)

ING - INGQUISITION

In South Africa, the bloody-mindlessness of politics is rife. Ask any citizen to explain the political dilemmas and you will get a list beyond infinity but ask any citizen to explain what they are doing to stop the political quandary – you won’t get any answers except a blank gaze and a mumble.

This is where the complainING stops and the investigatING starts. ING are one of the first South African English bands that address their lyrics directly to the political affairs of the nation. The Cape Town based band warped, bended and blended the local diplomacy with the familiar skills of thrash metal to create something undeniably unique. Today, 29 September 2012, marks the official release of ING’s second full-length album entitled Ingquisition.

The guitars and bass, aptly played by Darren Webb and Henk Kruger, screech and squeal with headbanging riffs on Ingquisition while the drummer, Marius Theron, compliment the not so clean singing vocalist and guitarist, Bryan Villain. Some tracks unfold with prowess and energy while other tracks feature infamous Cabinet voice samples. The highly charged atmosphere of the album is consistent and subsequently there are no breaks for a sweet melody or a lacklustre chug. The highlight tracks of Ingquisition are “Julius”, “Satan Rules”, “Ingquisition” and “My Way Or The Die Way”. A sense of the band’s enterprise comes through on the highlighted tracks and immediately the listener is drawn into the raw energy and can comprehend the theme of the lyrics. Villain’s vocals are not entirely clean singing but hold enough rhythm and vigour as well as a bit of a tainted South African accent. The high-quality production values really make Ingquisition the topping of blood on snow. It is independently produced with super studio clarity and razor precision is placed on composition and beat.

After a few spins of the thirteen track album, the impressive satire and skill of ING is apparent. The corners of a few tracks blend a little too much but the breakdowns add some fine stylistic variation. Each instrument is heard and what truly stands out is that no instrument is superior to the other. Furthermore, the track list runs fluidly and ING’s cut-out-the-fat approach to making an album is thoroughly pleasing.

What problems do I have with Ingquisition? None.

You can find ING on Facebook and on Twitter and on Reverbnation.