Gorod Process of a New Decline Review

Don’t listen to Process of a New Decline on your laptop speakers. Don’t play it in your car with your friends. Set aside an hour, grab your favorite pair of headphones, a sleeve of fig newtons, and a box of depends, lock the door, and come with me on the magic journey that is Gorod’s newest masterpiece: Process of a New Decline.

The first time I heard Gorod, they started climbing my charts – QUICK. I came to know them as the band on my iPod I couldn’t air guitar to (without looking like an idiot). The rhythms and riffs were so complex I became completely overwhelmed after about 3 seconds of trying to jam along to it. Better to just close my eyes and get lost in it. Process of a New Decline has moments that are bluesy, moments that are ethereal, and moments that are downright scary as shit (I said bring the depends, didn’t I?)

For better or worse, the album is just as much more palatable than Leading Vision as Leading Vision was compared to Neurotripsicks, and most of this has to do with the vocals, which, while not TOO different from previous releases, are toned down a tad. Before hearing it, a part of me had wished this album would be a little more accessible, simply because I know how talented these guys are and what they have to offer, and I always hate to see more casual listeners scared off by the extremely aggressive vocals or furious, snare-driven beats before they get a chance to be impressed by the intricate melodies, crazy time signatures, and tasteful genre-fusion.

Here’s a track-by-tack:

1. Disavow Your God: This guitar does NOT let up. Gorod bursts out of the gate doing what they do best and showing off plenty in the process. A very ethereal/atmospheric breakdown mixes things up a bit, and before you know it, you’re slowly floating up into the mother ship.

2. Programmers of Decline: Onslaught. You better start playing guitar hero now if you ever hope to be this good (I recommend Fight Fire with Fire on Expert). This track is sweet swingin’ riffs intertwined with neo-classical progressive speed. Does a really good job of setting up the jazzy undertones you will hear throughout the rest of the album.

3. Diverted Logic: Starts with a deep growl and a badass riff. As much as I enjoy their intricate, complicated, crazy speed shit, there’s something to be said for a simply badass riff, and this track has it in abundance. EXCELLENT use of those tiny split second moments of silence before the bombardment ensues. I believe around 2:40 is where I actually shit myself. An instant favorite.

4. Rebirth of Senses: Okay, we’re getting artsy here, right off the bat. Such creative melodics…and yet such ballsy growling! These guys are inventive, there’s no denying. You have to hear 2:19 for yourself to believe it. Oh my god!

5. The Path: Okay…what’s going on here? We begin with a ghostly choir interlude…wait for it…wait for it… @ 2:15 - this is the Gorod we know and love.

6. Splinters of Life: A sick, creepy fade-in riff. I am willing to bet secrets to the space time continuum are hidden somewhere in the twisting rhythms of this opening beat…and then another badass riff. This shit is as crunchy it gets, folks. Get ready for a trippy, bluesy, almost stoner-rock breakout (puts me in the mood for some Floyd). And then…BALLS OUT. Grunting, screaming, snare, double kick…only Gorod can pull this one off; the variety in this track is a testament to their taste and talent.

7. Guilty of Dispersal: Quirky System of a Down start. Your first impression is that this song isn’t for the faint of heart. But then it lets up, ever so pleasantly. Allow me to go on a tangent for a sec: Gorod is Heavy. Gorod is Metal…but it’s not really something you ride into battle to, am I right? Well, this song is the exception. Mount your steed, brandish your axe, and dance in the blood of your enemies. At 3:08 you will meet your match on the battlefield. And then, if you didn’t believe there was such a thing as metal swing jazz fusion, this song will prove you wrong @ 3:28

8. Gilded Cage: If you’re afraid of the dark, you’ll reach for the light switch when this track comes on. This song is not friendly. It isn’t groovy. It isn’t out to impress. It’ll make you shit your dick off.

9. A Common Hope: This track is more straight-forward, groovy metal than we see on the rest of the CD. I can actually follow this song and tap my foot without losing track where I am and what’s going on. I can only assume this song is about Barack Obama.

10. Watershed: Very quiet start with an ethereal, swirly fade in. A beautiful build up leads you into a carefully crafted tapestry of all kinds of complicated shit…You have no choice but to just sit and let it wash over you. I can tell they really had fun with this track. A watershed is: “that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community.” Don’t make fun of my research, I’m a Virgo.

11. Almighty’s Murderer: You just know any song with a title that in no uncertain terms refers to the demise of God is going to come out of the gate sounding like this. You’re in for some more badass riffs in this one. This album deserved an epic ending, and the last 60 seconds of this last track did the job nicely.

Okay, so…I love this shit. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a fucking awesome.