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Speedball Trio — Speedball Trio
(Addicted Label BNiL 769, 2020, DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-02-22

Speedball Trio Cover art

The Speedball Trio is part of the new wave of Russian heavy free-form punk / grindcore / jazz scene. I first encountered them on DEEBBBB’s Episode 2. And now on their self-titled debut album you can experience their pure unadulterated wild and crazed music. Based in Moscow, Speedball Trio formed in 2018 and consists of the most active and prolific musicians of the Russian experimental scene:  Anton Ponomarev (sax), Sergey Bolotin (drums), and Hassan Mustafin (bass). Their album is seven tracks lasting 33 minutes, somewhere between an EP and a full length album. This music is not for the faint of heart; it requires a lot of attention and can be very disruptive when someone enters the room. The dangerous mix of punk, jazz, and grindcore is not for everyone, especially Anton’s improvised wailing sax. The dedicated listener will be rewarded though by such gems as “Granate Skin,” “Grind,”  and the closing track, “Paindance.” Clocking in at almost nine minutes, “Granate Skin” is a calmer take on Speedball Trio’s free form improv with a Mid-Eastern vibe and approaching something like a melody.  “Grind” is an unusual track, something akin to avant-garde surf music, if you can visualize that. The rapid bass riff reminds me of Dick Dale’s classic "Misirlu," and then they become extermely abstract. “Paindance” is a comparatively slow track based on a bass riff that is almost melodic, and the music accelerates into a trancelike riff. So if you are up to exploring some  innovative experimental music, be sure to put Speedball Trio on your list.

Filed under: New releases, 2020 releases

Related artist(s): Speedball Trio

More info
http://speedball.bandcamp.com/album/speedball-trio

 

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