Then I heard Brutal Truth.

Sure, the production on Sounds of the Animal Kingdom is still a low-fi affair, an integral component of the grind ethos. Yet Brutal Truth still manages to deviate from the norm without compromising its card-carrying grindcore status. Perhaps this is due to the disparate influences of the band members creeping into the fray. Take, for example, the album's two covers: the jazz legend Sun Ra-penned "It's After the End of the World" and avant garde stylist John Cage's "4.20." While the latter is merely four minutes and twenty seconds of complete silence, the former takes on a spooky, apocalyptic feel, various voices endlessly repeating, "It's after the end of the world/Don't you know that yet?" beneath a subdued barrage of barely restrained feedback.

Yet the sublime, contemplative moments are few and far between - this is, after all, a Brutal Truth album. In fact, it's rather ironic that the one song addressing the end of the world is out of the loop, so to speak, in relation to other Brutal Truth songs, since at times the tunes on Sounds are the auditory equivalent of Armageddon, a nuclear assault of breakneck speed and rough-edged insanity. Opener "Dementia" pulls no punches musically, and "K.A.P." - that's "Kill All Politicians," folks - follows with a lyrical intensity matched only by the jarring riffs anchored by the pummeling rhythm section of Dan Lilker and Richard Hoak. Also standing out in this regard are the tracks "Fucktoy," "Fisting," and a call to arms, of sorts, in "Postulate Then Liberate." And I would be amiss if I failed to mention my favorite tune of all of Sounds, the closer "Prey." Even though it is nothing more than a single riff with Kevin Sharpe yelling "Prey!" for well over 20 minutes, it just doesn't get old to me. Kind of odd, considering that I was once turned off by grindcore due to its lack of variety.

Even if you are like I once was, dubbing grindcore nothing more than a talentless glob of noise, at least take the time to check this album out. Then listen again. And again. Perhaps the band's barely bridled chaos will eventually grow on you, as it did me. And if you're already of fan of Brutal Truth, then I'm preaching to the choir. Go forth and hit the "play" button. And grind your ass off.