The sophomore effort from the Miami-based sludge/hardcore unit featuring members of
Torche,
Kylesa, and defunct hardcore punk outfit Capsule,
Feel Great delivers a compact blow to the head. There's no marbling on this slab of meat, as
Wrong continues to excel at pairing the jerky, start/stop riffage and abrupt tonal shifts of
Helmet with the pummeling brevity of classic punk, resulting in something that feels akin to a sonic hit and run. Kinetic opener "Errordome" sets the crime scene, delivering a decibel-crushing onslaught that barely lasts two-and-a-half minutes. Guitarist Eric Hernandez's commanding vocals are snug in the mix, but gruff enough to break through the aural morass when needed, and the band stick together like seasoned infantrymen throughout, unleashing volley after volley of artillery until the listener is unable to do anything but submit to the shelling.
Feel Great definitely scratches that '90s alternative metal itch, but it never feels mired in the era's propensity toward excess. It's densely packed sludge metal for short attention spans, but it packs a helluva charge. ~ James Christopher Monger