I’m Going To Kill Myself is a record which engrains itself into the psyche, a collection of raw and undemanding yet attention grabbing songs which rile up the ears before seducing them with a striking merger of garage punk and grunge. In the same way the likes of Weezer and The Pixies create a contagion which follows the senses until total submission, this album’s creators, Sneeze conjure up a fluid and hungry temptation. Though arguably an album which initially does not make the easiest of engagements, given time it emerges as one of the more enterprising and riveting releases to provoke the senses.
Consisting of Derek Desharnais, Julian Moore, and Danny Boyd, Sneeze come from Boston, MA and include former members of L’antietam and Ape Up. Following on from first release Grandma in the Trenches of 2011, I’m Going To Kill Myself was first released as a limited cassette last year but now has its deserved wide release on both sides of the pond on download and limited vinyl with Midnight Werewolf Records in the US (a pressing limited to 300 on Cloudy Clear coloured vinyl), and in the UK via Essex based independent label Close To Home Records (limited to 200 on Transparent Blue coloured vinyl). It is a release you can only suspect will make the band a name on a tide of active lips once its raucous charms lay their roughened dance upon the wider world.
Starting with Intro, a track which slowly emerges from a sonic haze coated stark ambience into a full blown tirade of aural 
corrosiveness and equally scorching energy still within a crawling gait and oppressive breath, the album flows seamlessly from one track to another, a sonic link hooking the listener immediately leaving no chance to take a breath. The following Canker takes up the attack with striding rhythms and scarring riffs whilst the vocals of Desharnais tease and taunt words with raw and direct brashness to match the sounds.
Through both the scuzz loaded Park Her Road with its throaty bass lures and acidically melodic temptation and the potent resonating rhythmic call of Bad Head, a reference to another band teases thoughts especially with the smart and infectious hooks which vein the fried surface of sound. It is as the title track next tempts the ear with further melodic barbs that the name of the band opens its recognition. Throughout many of the songs there is a definite essence of Everclear which whispers in the ear in the contagious melodies that run through the tracks. Smothered in the distinct energy and character of Sneeze it is a spice adding to the intrigue and appetite sparked already by the album.
From the strong start another plateau is grasped with Vaticant and Dark Elf, two sure pinnacles of the release. The first is a punk rock bruising with a carnivorous grilling from the riffs and predatory snarl from the bass whilst vocals growl and snap at the ear. Barely 50 seconds in spiteful attack, it is an outstanding blast soon matched by its successor. Dark Elf unleashes thumping rhythms and rapacious shadows which remind of The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster whilst the caustic voice of its tense caress has a Melvins/Gruntruck like mischievous menace. Again brief the track is a burning flame of sonic antagonism and seductive grit that only leaves rich pleasure.
From the following persistently compelling Quit Shitting, the likes of Brainage Pipe, Crumb, and Under the Fridge leave further satisfaction, though this particular part of the album does dip from the impressive start. They do make for a pleasing if slightly underwhelming passage of the album which still ensures there is never a moment when attention flirts with other things and can easily enjoy the offerings before once more being sparked into stronger passion with the mighty Blank Man. It is another track with extra growl to its inventive exploits and a raging vitality cast over a mesh of chewing riffs and again the great grisly bass sound.
Completed by the more than decent Scabass and Outro and its final plaintive invitation, I’m Going To Kill Myself is an album set to recruit a wealth of eager hearts. Fifteen tracks of punk fuelled, melodically sculpted, grunge distortion it is a treat not to be missed. Go on have a Sneeze.
http://facebook.com/sneezeband
8/10
RingMaster 05/06/2013
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