Stumble To Failure

"Reaping The Whirlwind: is California Love's second 12" but like the Low Profile Threat record, it's short as hell. While the length of time may be a bummer, the content is top notch. The sound can easily be described as a mix of Infest and Gehenna; you get the intensity of the former and the negative, misanthropic black metal tinged latter (This recording doesn't have too much of a black metal influence but C/L's final output "Post Mortem Emanations" does.).

The biggest surprise to me was the simple fact a label like Youth Attack! released this monster; Youth Attack! is respectable and has worked with bands like Ruination and The Repos but this - "RTW" - doesn't fit their usual criteria. In any case, this was also released by the band on their Cali Love label.

Ten to one if I've talked to someone about music, California Love has been mentioned. It's a violent, take-no-prisoners style that many attempt but few excel. A Gehenna quote comes to mind: "Our songs are about real fighting. Fighting is violent, brutal, calculated, and unmerciful. Not just fighting with your fists, or with guns, or with knives, but fighting with every fiber of your existence. These fights are everywhere... On the streets, against yourself, mental, legal, spiritual, or financial, wars. Every living thing is fighting an unending battle." Lyrically, the band doesn't push the boundaries nor are they overtly poetic but they're brutally honest.

Tracks like the closing "Wolf Feast" are just negative assaults on humanity and document the simple fact that life is a war. The usual topics are discussed; misanthropic and apathetic humans, religion, and failure. For example, "Of Flesh": "Mankind surrounds me - can't stand the sight - your voices disgust me - worthless lumps of flesh - always around me - suffocating - feelings violent urge - fuck your life." In under a hundred words, you're painted a bleak outlook that is sure to ruin your day.

I've seen this band described as grindcore, hardcore, power-violence, death metal - pretty much every name under the sun - but to me only one name stands out: Negative Hardcore. Whilst Gehenna's lyrics are more abstract at times, both bands share the same outlook and the same sound, It's no mistake that there is a split between them (A389 still has some in stock), a record I'm positive will appear here.

As I mentioned above, Youth Attack! and Cali Love released "Reaping The Whirlwind" back in 2008. I've been able to track down a handful of variations:

/100 Green Vinyl w/ Silk Screen Cover
/100 Purple Vinyl w/ Silk Screen Cover
/500 Green Vinyl w/ Regular Cover
/500 Purple Vinyl w/ Regular Cover
/? Gray Vinyl w/ Regular Cover (This is a transition color so I have no idea on the pressing info)

While California Love released the flawless "Can't Waste Death" 12", I have to admit that this is my favorite record by them. "Reaping The Whirlwind" is the perfect album for Winter. Take a seat and embrace the hate.