Dial

2009 release from the New Zealand rockers. The weight of a mountain is what Dial's absolutely crushing five-song debut EP drops. This austere outfit successfully channels the darkest corners of the AmRep catalog, the raw ferocity of classic Hardcore, the off-time kilter of Math-Rock, and the concept that music can actually be dangerous. The airtight composure of Dial's debut recording is striking; it focuses more on space and dissonance than technical shreddery. Obscenely heavy guitars collide with bludgeoning percussion and vicious female vocals, making for a downright terrifying listening experience. Five tracks.