With entire battalions of bands performing a watered-down version of their sound, it’s refreshing that members of sludge-metal outfit Neurosis are avoiding signing such counterfeiters to their Neurot label. Made Out Of Babies—led by nervy howler Julie Christmas—is one of Neurot’s newer wards, and the Brooklyn quartet shucks stoner rock and avant-metal cliché in favor of an abrasive razor slash of noise. Akin to the sadly forgotten Silverfish, MOOB’s full-length debut, 2005’s Trophy, is a staggering set that’s actually tame compared to its hypnotically violent live onslaught. Maybe that’s why the group recorded last year’s Coward with Steve Albini, who has a reputation for capturing bands in their raw live state. Ohio’s Mouth Of The Architect hems closely to the Isis brand of dense, “thinking man’s” metal interspersed with eerie, atmospheric textures. Opening: Fire Vs. Extinguisher.

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