The Imbuing

2005 Big Orange Clown/Sanctuary Records Official Site

Review by: O.M.O.M. 

I’m always a tad suspicious when I see a new vanity label run by a rock star.  Anyone remember Simmons Records in the eighties?  Just because a band or individual has had numerous charting records doesn’t mean they have the skills to run a label, seek out new talent and develop them.  I’m not the biggest Slipknot fan by any stretch of the imagination. When I heard that M. Shawn Crahan, Clown to you Slipknot fans, was given a label imprint by Sanctuary Records, I was a tad skeptical when I heard that his first act was a metal band named Gizmachi and Crahan would be handling the production duties. 

I have no idea what a Gizmachi is but I can tell you they formed in upstate New York in 1999, Gizmachi vocalist Sean Kane met Crahan at a concert and passed him a demo tape.  Crahan listened to the tape and kept in touch with Kane over the next couple of years.  That relationship led to a showcase where Crahan was impressed enough to sign them as the first act on his new label Big Orange Clown. 

As ghosts of past vanity label bands laughed in my head (House Of Lords, Gypsy Rose), I apprehensively loaded The Imbuing into my cd player.  Surprise, surprise, not only does Clown have an ear for talent but he’s also a damn fine record producer.  Opener “The Answer” starts off featuring oddly eerie, almost out of tune backing vocals chanting, “I have regret.”  Crunching riffs courtesy of guitarists Jason Hannon and Mike Laurino propel Sean Kane’s throat shredding vocals and introspective lyrics.  

One thing that really makes The Imbuing stand out from other releases is the backing vocals found on the disc.  Guitarist Mike Laurino’s vocals are a complete 180 from lead singer Sean Kane’s and surprisingly it makes for a great mix.  Take “Wandering Eyes” for example; featuring just the growling vocals of Sean Kane it would be another run of the mill metal dirge.  Laurino’s chorus vocals in the mix give the song dynamics and depth that allow the vein-popping verses of Kane to hit with more intensity. 

Solid production work courtesy of Crahan and a clean mix courtesy of Josh Wilbur afford Gizmachi the chance to strut their stuff.  “Wearing Skin” is straightforward metal-aggro that features a good old-fashioned thrashing courtesy of drummer Jimmie Hatcher and bassist Kris Gilmore.  “Wearing Skin” also features some damn fine guitar soloing; crank this tune up and annoy your pinhead neighbors, it’ll add five years to your life.  The two years between presenting Crahan with their demo and getting signed seemed to have been spent well by the young men of Gizmachi; tight tunes and solid lyrics are found in all eight tracks of their debut.  Do yourself a favor and kick back with the lyrics in the liner notes while playing this the first few times.  Digging in with these songs pays off and lets the album grow with you, especially the two longest tracks, “People Show” and closer “Voice Of Sanity.”  

All in all, The Imbuing is a solid debut release that shows promise for this young band.  Check them out live this summer on the second stage at Ozzfest.  Check your preconceived notions at the door; Gizmachi and Big Orange Clown might just surprise you. 

Rating: 75 out of 100