In 2008, Gridlink released Amber Gray. In 2011, they released Orphan. While Longhena remains my favorite album by the group, you would be hard pressed to find two more influential albums than those two releases, in grindcore and beyond. Building on already nascent progressive movements within the grindcore sound, that had been there since the inception of the genre but never quite dominant, Gridlink quite simply reconfigured what people thought was possible with grind. At the same time, a legendary aura of unfinished masterpieces, of works straining against the limitations of what was possible for the musicians who recorded them, was starting to form. There was apparently another form, a more perfect one, for both of these releases. Two weeks ago, that version was finally unleashed in the form of Perfect Amber.
Perfect Amber is a retracked and remixed version of both of these albums. This means that this is more than "just" a change in sound but also features new compositions, namely new guitars from mastermind Takafumi Matsubara and bass by the illustrious Mauro Cordoba (who also worked with Matsubara on Coronet Juniper). And yes, there's also new production and a new running order, bringing these two recordings finally in line with Matsubara's original intent. And let me tell you, the end result is glorious. Of course these releases were already amazing but there's a reason the third release is my favorite - there was something more present and complete about Longhena, more arresting. It felt like it hard more staying power, demanding my attention where a lot of grindcore can lose me in its sheer maximalism.
All of that is gone. Perfect Amber's sound is so good. Even in the chaos of the many-noted, chaotic, and abrasive core of its sound, every blastbeat, guitar note, and deft bass line can be heard, and more importantly, felt. The main thing this new mix gives the album is more definition and this, in turn, lends it more impact. Where before things tended to blur together, now I finally myself eagerly listening to every expression. Of course it's hard for me to know what guitars were added; even with music not this cacophonous that would be hard to pick up. But suffice it to say that what I can't detect in details is born forth in the bigger picture; beyond just the sound, Perfect Amber feels fuller in composition as well. Everything rings with Matsubara's vision, clearly a complete work of music where it was lacking before.
Which brings me to the most important point: it's crazy how relevant the music on Perfect Amber is and how much Gridlink really was ahead of almost every other group in the space. This is progressive, intelligent, and no less furious than anything else grindcore. It is a masterful piece of art, both releases, and a great excuse to dive back into such as masterpiece or to reacquaint yourself if you weren't that familiar with it before. Honestly, I can think of no better release to play someone who wants to learn what grindcore is about: the passion, the musicality, and the sheer assault of the sound here cuts through to everything that's great about the genre. Finally, we get to hear this assault in all of its glory and bask in the power of one of the greatest acts in the history of grindcore.
Perfect Amber released on August 1st. Head on to the Bandcamp link above to grab it.