I always love a good ten-track record, but I will forgive Batpiss for settling with just nine. Biomass follows up the band’s wildly thumbs-upped 2013 record Nuclear Winter with 40 minutes of grisly, bone-raw swing, punch and sting. The local trio pick up where they left off, while also moulding their already established sound into a more considered and winding beast – which probably has something to do with the group’s enhanced ability to capture the sweat-and-swagger of their live shows on tape.
The Store is a banging, flailing intro, which sets the tone pretty well, but keeps its hat on. Not long after, however, Batpiss pull their bootstraps up and really get thrashing with the cracker of a tune that is Daredevil. From there, the battering rarely lets up.
Midway through, the absolutely punishing Orchard brings to mind departed Sydney underground rockers Four Days In A Maze. That’s by no means a bad thing – in fact it’s a nod to the ‘Piss’ own levels of grit, grind and groove.
Biomass contains plenty of trudging, sonic behemoth-type moments as well; the slow-burning Pulling Out feels like the band’s ‘Take a breather’ song and this moment of respite leaves them rejuvenated in order to swing the throttle up and flay through one more banger; Waking Up at the Wheel. To be sure, Waking Up at the Wheel is the smoothest ride on the list by far, but it’s delivered with enough force to justify closing the album.
From beginning to end, Biomass is one to enjoy loudly and mercilessly.
BY MATT PANAG
