Unsane

While most of its New York City noise-rock contemporaries have either smoothed out their abrasive edges or disintegrated altogether, corrosive power trio Unsane has kept its brutal vision intact for nearly two decades. Known for blood-splattered album art that matches the grim music inside, guitarist-singer Chris Spencer, drummer Vinny Signorelli, and bassist Dave Curran elevate their cacophonous template to new heights on Visqueen. "Against the Grain" starts things off with a spare drumbeat and an understated guitar figure before Spencer erupts with a massive riff and the kind of self-loathing vitriol ("I know I fucked up/ I can't make this go away") that's his stock in trade. A blues influence that informed the guitarist's S.F.-based side project Cutthroats 9 takes a more prominent place on the new material, particularly the menacing slide-guitar-and-harmonica gallop of "This Stops at the River" and the grinding dirge of "Windshield." Visqueen delivers a touch more melody than the average Unsane effort, but the album still comes packed with plenty of eviscerating grit and fury to suitably damage the ear canals of longtime fans. — Dave Pehling

Details

Unsane plays on Tuesday, June 5, at 9 p.m. Admission is $10; call 621-4455 or visit www.bottomofthehill.com for more info.

Bottom of the Hill

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More About

• Chris Spencer
• Vinny Signorelli
• Dave Curran
• Dave Pehling

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