We get wary when new bands are compared to old favorites. Especially when Ministry is involved. And that was the case when a recent Revolver piece went up touting that if we liked Ministry and Nailbomb then we should check out PUREST FORM. Most times the FFO recs are shite but in this case we found it to be pretty spot on as long as you clarify which era of Ministry you’re talking about.
In the case of the kind of noise that Los Angeles trio PUREST FORM make, we’re talking that early period when Al and Paul infused guitars into their sound for the first time and around the time that Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly were being born. You know, that raw, visceral, mechanical-sounding Industrial era when Ogre was really doing some nasty stuff to himself on stage nightly and Chris Connelly was a part of the Ministry traveling circus that played behind chain link fences.
Made up of members from Fury, Roman, Candle, Choking on Ash, Object of Affection, Vacant Future, and Pocketknife, PUREST FORM is a new kind of beastie and one that leaves a memorable impression over the course of the trio’s new self-titled EP. “BROKE” is an incendiary introduction with razor sharp riffage from guitarist/programmer Madison Woodward, Story Beeson’s monstrous growl, a little hypnotic bass from Riley Joyner, and topped off by some caustic programmed beats from the aforementioned Woodward to make the opening salvo quite a defining one.
“OPTICS” is a bouncing behemoth of bombastic beats and swirling shreds like a sick cyclone of jagged metal (Like, physical metal…but also kinda METAL!) whirling around and around with every rotation bringing you closer to danger as the gnashing of Beeson’s ferocious bark collides with Woodward’s licks and programming while “SELF DESTRUCTION” is just a straight up pummeling as this sonic battering ram of sheer intensity repeatedly slams into your senses. But in a good way.
SELF-TITLED is out now and can be yours instantly when you head here, here or to the stream below. For more from PUREST FORM follow the socials by clicking here.