Metz - II

As Canadian trio Metz return for round two, the most pressing question for the group might be how can they possibly pack a bigger punch than their furious self-titled debut. The answer lies not in their power, but in their control. From the raucous flurry of ‘Metz’, ‘II’ differs in being a direct gut-punching affair. It’s immediate, but leaves no doubt that however many times it strikes it’s going to be leaving the same mark.

It takes almost a minute for opener ‘Acetate’ to abandon its trashing feeding frenzy to create just enough space for vocalist Alex Edkins to spit his barked lines into, before the searing chorus pulls the song right back into the melee. As album introductions go, ‘Acetate’ is terrifyingly effective, and the rewarding roller coaster ride is set on its way.

Clocking in at nearly five minutes, ‘Spit You Out’ is the longest track on the album, which rampages its way through 10 tracks in only half an hour. It’s not like Metz need long to do what they do though, and their standard sub-three minutes is more then enough for the throat shredding vocal assault backed by frantic, driving riffs and unerring lightspeed drumming.

It’s immaculate in execution, but the album bursts with unconventional hooks, from the woozy repetition of ‘IOU’ to the manic fury of ‘Nervous System’. Metz close their half hour with an imposing descent into true chaos, ‘Kicking a Can of Worms’ boasting one of the most untamed and energetic ends to any album.