AlbumsNovember 29, 201118,403 views

Gaza I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die


I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die
01. Calf 02. I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die 03. Hospital Fat Bags 04. Gristle 05. Sire 06. Slutmaker 07. Hell Crown 08. Moth 09. Cult 10. Pork Finder 11. Untitled
2006 Black Market Activities
Our score 7

by Nick
3/18/2007

Very few debut albums are capable of generating the amount of buzz that Gaza's I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die has been doing ever since its release (and yes, I do realize that it took a while for I Don't Care. to make it into my hands). Past experience has shown me that this "underground buzz" isn't exactly dead on. In fact, more times than not, these so-called "buzz albums" turn out to be over-inflated balloons of pure mediocrity that have somehow managed to gain popularity through hype and not musical merit. So after I Don't Care... has been out for months and some of the buzz has subsided, where do I stand Well let's just say that, hype or no-hype, I'm pretty impressed. For those unfamiliar with Gaza, the Salt Lake City band plays an abrasive style of chaotic metalcore with heavy doses of grind, noisecore, and sludge. They've obviously listened to some Botch in their days, as gritty, math heavy riffs lay the foundation for much of this album. Throw in some Pig Destroyer and Cable influences to cover the grind and the noisecore side of things, and you've got a pretty decent description on your hands. The first three tracks are an excellent representation of the album in its entirety. The explosive beginning of "Calf" and its technically proficient guitar work will immediately strike a chord of familiarity with Botch's We are the Romans. The rapid drumming juxtaposed with slower, dissonant guitar riffs and eerie screams and wails of the second track is a great display of Gaza's grind/noise influences. The third track, "Hospital Fat Bags," is a clear standout track as it evolves from precise chaos into a slower, sludgey conclusion. When the discordant guitars and indecipherable screams fade out, the track continues with the repetition of a relaxed riff that would feel right at home on a Tides record. Those who pay close attention will also notice that the concluding riff of "Hospital Fat Bags" is also reincarnated at the conclusion of "Moth" later on in the album. This example, along with small, but effective doses of atmospherics and random noise that show up over the course of the record, demonstrates that Gaza paid attention to detail and desired to produce a cohesive album. However, I Don't Care... is not exactly the perfect album. Songs like "Gristle" are rather forgettable, as repetitive guitar work and a painfully long concluding breakdown become a bit tiresome. After the first three tracks, Gaza doesn't really explore any new musical territory and the album sometimes gets stuck in a rut of predictability.Also, the much talked about lyrics, popular for excerpts like "Praise Jesus.LOL," and "I've got a mouth full of retard," as well as direct shots at Hatebreed, Hawthorne Heights and Thrice possess a love 'em or hate 'em quality. Sure, it's nice to see lyrics that aren't tangled in showy metaphors, but on the other hand, emulating talk seen on Internet message boards just doesn't appear to take a lot of skill. You decide. Bottom Line: While many have already made up their mind about Gaza's I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die, I'll offer my belated recommendation to those still unfamiliar. Despite the album's slightly predictable tendencies, fans of abrasive and chaotic music should find much to enjoy about the effort, as it is a rather impressive full-length debut by a young band.

41 comments

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Nick_ 3/18/2007 9:39:54 PM

two firsts in a row!

Nick_ 3/18/2007 9:40:30 PM

eh, or maybe not. whoops.

abortedfetuscore_ 3/18/2007 9:42:39 PM

this shit rules, deserves way more than a 7.

Destroyerofpoon_ 3/18/2007 9:44:43 PM

SHIT f*ckING BAND f*ckING NEWB ASS SCENESTERS ARGHHGHHH GLSDLFE GRLALGLLARRRBBBB BAR NARRGGG

Destroyerofpoon_ 3/18/2007 9:46:27 PM

also that was a joke if you retards didnt notice cd deserves a 2

daikini_ 3/18/2007 10:37:55 PM

*wears normal jeans*

vcreationv_ 3/18/2007 10:55:25 PM

WOW this review is horrible.

anonymous 3/18/2007 10:58:42 PM

what f*cking buzz are you talking about? none ever existed.

ofgo_ 3/18/2007 11:03:46 PM

yeah.. terrible review. I'd give a 5/10. it's not the worst thing ever.. i can bear it

hotaction_ 3/18/2007 11:18:51 PM

i got this cd early from the college station and i was unimpressed then..and now im listening to it again while reading the review...and still nothing. i feel like they need to focus more and stop hiding behind all that distortion.

hotaction_ 3/18/2007 11:38:35 PM

ok after listening again. they do have some (some) good parts and the recording sounds awesome. but the songs are all over the place. but hey different strokes.

mefuckyeah_ 3/19/2007 12:34:45 AM

so wait. does this cd sometimes sound like....botch?

ballsballsballsneenuballs_ 3/19/2007 12:46:50 AM

so far... listening through.. I've heard a million botch ripp offs on some level, even chariot and norma jean? hard to refute. the recording sounds excellent if they we're shooting recreate the chariots "everything is alive...." which, I, being a fan of the botch lineage... can tell undeniable that they were shooting for that sound. +pig destroyer

Numberica_ 3/19/2007 3:05:10 AM

I try to stay out of the hype/buzz and subsequent shit-storm when the reality doesn't live up to the hype. I try not to get defensive at all when people have fair criticism. However, I feel it important to note that we're not TRYING to do anything besides write shit that we like to play. I'm not going to say that we don't like Botch (although I honestly don't see the comparison too much, but I trust that it must be when so commonly referred to) or whatever band, but the bottom line is we play wh

Eric_ 3/19/2007 3:07:17 AM

One time I saw these guys at a rock concert, and I swear that they sucked a baby's penis LIVE. In concert. One time.

panzer_ 3/19/2007 4:22:18 AM

love what little ive heard of the album. id probably given it an 8/10.

AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs_ 3/19/2007 5:59:28 AM

U.S.A. is death metal / ??????????? from Salt Lake City, a 1st album of Gaza. It is the band name which is slow like HiroshimaWillBurn, but the contents of a sound are considerably brutality. It is music after DillingerEscapePlan / Converge / Mastodon to do it, and the style doesn't have newie, but bloodiness and gravel gravel and the touch that I did that ??????? and the chaos that I did are filled with bring about a strong impact. A core ??? part to press which it grinds is seen everywhere, bu

drew ailes_ 3/19/2007 8:54:59 AM

i think lambgoat just found a new reviewer. foreign mike gluck songs.

gaywad_ 3/19/2007 9:49:47 AM

when i first heard this i thought it was the new Chariot CD. the recording is just like "everything is alive" and both singers even do that annoying groan (see Gristle) thing. 6/10 record.

Gaza's empty beer bottle_ 3/19/2007 9:56:29 AM

Was someone from Gaza drunk and behind the keyboard again? *Numberica*

grain of salt_ 3/19/2007 10:13:26 AM

This is very good stuff! I'm sure these guys got influenced by bands ala Botch and Coalesce and the like but to say they sound like Botch is not quite true. The Gristle song (may be indeed the weakest of the album) is also on their first EP ("East") and it sounds way better on that one. And I mean way better. Check that disc, out on exigent records!

Numberica_ 3/19/2007 12:45:33 PM

"Was someone from Gaza drunk and behind the keyboard again? *Numberica*" Nope.

maniac_ 3/19/2007 1:00:54 PM

Gristle is one of the better tracks on this album. Good stuff, overall. I agree with Nick.

anonymous 3/19/2007 5:52:40 PM

So wait... All you have to do these days is get wasted, act like a gay, and make demands on threads to get your album reviewed and it happens? Good to know. Terrible band.

Nick_ 3/19/2007 5:58:48 PM

This review was written over a month ago, way before any type of "demands" were made for a review.

xslick_Mcfavoritex_ 3/19/2007 6:33:32 PM

Most of the dudes in this band used to play in a screamo band called Day Of Less and they were f*cking terrible. Gaza is worse. The lyrics are f*cking pointless and boring just like the songs. I saw them play live and all I heard was Norma Jean so I mean to say Botch and Coalesce. Quit sullying the good names of those bands with your boring f*cking music. The end.

Jayson_ 3/20/2007 12:32:06 AM

This band deserves absolutely no hate. Amazing dudes, amazing musicians, amazing live show, amazing album, etc. One of the only bands to come out in recent times that I stand 100% behind. And I have impeccable musical taste, so there.

snails_ 3/20/2007 7:18:31 AM

shit band. break up already homogays.

defecation_ 3/21/2007 4:30:43 AM

Decent review. Except I'm goddamned tired of reading 'Botch'. Fuuuuucccckkkkk.

Dillon_ 3/21/2007 11:28:34 PM

I thought this record was perfect. great band

dreudamn_ 3/22/2007 7:48:44 PM

hell yeah gaza.

anonymous 3/26/2007 5:44:55 PM

this band f*cking honks.

Mason_ 3/26/2007 8:29:27 PM

Since when did "Most of these dudes" mean 1 guy?

smokeoutloud_ 3/29/2007 3:59:37 PM

took shots at hatebreed eh?? did the shots hit 'em??

anonymous 3/30/2007 1:17:30 AM

U T A H F A G G O T S

Coalesce_ 4/2/2007 8:53:34 AM

Excuse me folks, but has anyone seen my riffs??

real deal holyfield_ 6/25/2007 2:19:06 PM

holy f*cking pissed off, wow i'm lovin' this

Dillon_ 7/15/2007 1:54:15 AM

Buy THIS f*ckING CD if you wanna hear how grizzly it can possibly get all while flipping the genre on it's ass. Seriously this is the best shit I've heard in a long time. Very f*cking addicted

pork seeker_ 7/15/2007 1:55:19 AM

P O R K F I N D E R owns your goddamn souls

Fuck Botch_ 7/29/2008 3:10:46 AM

f*ck anyone who talsk shit about GAZA, they will destroy you live. And in general, go play guitar hero

Need_Hope_ 8/28/2009 12:10:49 AM

this is like the chariot minus jesus. the last song is infact a chariot song. whatever still pretty good.