“If I say goodbye, I hope you say I love you.“
When’s the last time you heard a sasscore project that really clicked for you? It’s few and far between that a project comes along in this genre and truly excels in what it’s trying to achieve. It’s a divisive sound, one which can very easily go wrong and irk people rather than appeal to them. Whether it be through overly exaggerated vocals, borderline wanky instrumentals, or, on the flipside, not being creative enough. They Are Cutting My Arms Off is the latest band to attempt this sound, and with their veteran cast of musicians, hopes going into Apparition were high.
A short release running in at just under twelve minutes, Apparition sees They Are Cutting My Arms Off foray into a variety of styles and sounds within the sasscore niche. Chaotic, erratic, and loud, Apparition strives to tick all of the boxes for any sasscore record worth its salt. The band’s debut single, “Flowers Pressed Into Paperback Spines“, is an instant draw, flirting between ludicrously ridiculous screams and sassy cleans reminiscent of some 2000s pop stars. There’s a mathy edge to the entire track, which only bolsters the impact; it’s intricate, trinkly runs punctuating every line. Conversely, the opening track “Goodnight, Finally.” sees the band flex their chops in an entirely different way, with the duration split between harsh screams and fast-paced instrumentals, and stripped back moments allowing the sassy vocals to shine. A contrast of styles is something that any listener going into Apparition should expect from the very start. No two tracks are the same, with each having its own unique style or spin to it.
Of course, the vocals aren’t all there is to this release, with the songwriting itself also being front and centre. As we’ve alluded to, no two tracks are the same, and this extends to the structure as well as vocally. The second track, “Portrait of a Ghost in Watercolour“, is a prime example of this; it’s nearly two minute runtime becoming a sprawling maze of narration, darting from one style to another. Fast-paced, erratic instrumentals fall away into an electronic-laden break, before then doubling back down and turning heavy once more. There’s no reprieve, nowhere to hide from the chaos. It lulls you into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under your feet and plunging you back into the chaos once more. “Comfort Vs. Collapse” sits in a very similar space, but doubles down on the heaviness, progressing the album’s narrative. Then there’s “[Void]” which, despite its sub-minute runtime, stands out as something truly special. Only describable as tv-static-core, it’s heavily distorted, with no discernible instrumentation to be found. Harsh, echoed screams push through the noise, taking the track to an altogether eerie space. It’ll be divisive for many, but as a midpoint, it works perfectly as an interlude.
Of course, not everything is a blend of styles, with “Future Finder” being the album’s “heavy moment”. An unrelenting barrage of noise, the harsh vocals pummel above the cacophonous instrumental for the entire runtime. It’s chaotic, loud, and fun. One of the less creative tracks in terms of experimentation, its less-is-more attitude allows it to stand tall amongst the rest of the release, and will undoubtedly see it quickly become a fan favourite. “Less” then sees the band lean into a more hardcore-esque style with some shouted vocals, low growls, and slower instrumentals thrown in for good measure. It even sees a crowd-killing section rear its head in the latter half, with slow chugs punctuated by a strangely enticing glitchy synth – this is the live moment and will turn crowds into warzones.
The real question is, who is this for? In a genre which sees very few new faces, They Are Cutting My Arms Off is very much a labour of love. Apparition is not there to try and pull you in; it’s not there to try and make the sound accessible. It’s there as a thank you to all who came before, and it’s there as an example of what can still be done. Think of it as Ed Gein meets The Sawtooth Grin. This is not accessible in any way or form, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s pure chaos, and for those who want that, this will be a standout release for years to come. Are there places where it could be experimented with further? Absolutely. But then again, it doesn’t need to. This is a debut release from a new band in the genre, and it lands remarkably well. So, if you’re even remotely interested in sasscore or grind and you want to hear something new rather than flipping between the same few bands over and over, They Are Cutting My Arms Off is for you.
