Spit Mask - You May Feel Some Pressure

If Spit Mask's initial EP "Swallow" was anything to go by, it showed the project's equally outright sexual nature, open mindedness in experimental BDSM, and kick-ass industrial and EBM projection. It was the birth of something grand; whilst "Swallow" was enjoyable the rawness often came out somewhat sloppy. But with refined technique and a further understanding of both themselves and the machine they utilize, Spit Mask is joining a favorable roster of artists (such as Mvtant and Street Sects) within the industrial scene who can project a raw sound while still fulfilling their musical endeavors. It is with this and their maturity in both body and music production that their debut LP "You May Feel Some Pressure" has become the definitive Spit Mask experience. 

After moving to Germany, Spit Mask caught the attention of the ever revered record label aufnahme + wiedergabe and joined their ranks. The project proceeded to release "You May Feel Some Pressure" on the label in both digital and limited edition (to five-hundred copies world-wide) vinyl formats. I was one of the persons who obtained the vinyl as I'm a sucker for physical media; the cover art is a NSFW piece showcasing a presumably fully nude body with a flower tattoo just above the groin. The belt buckles and restraints wrapped around the torso give way to what we're about to experience in classic Spit Mask fashion. The cover art on the back of the record shows a pierced nipple on a breast; if you've children, this might be a record you bring out for when the little kids go to bed. And on this record are nine tracks laced with aggressive BDSM-industrial - a genre only suited to describe Spit Mask.



It is here that I would normally task myself with finding the stand out tracks on the album but, truth be told, it's hard to choose any one song on the entirety of "You May Feel Some Pressure" that stands out more than the next; every single song on the album is worthy of the next and they destroyed and decimated my expectations. From the get go with 'Gender Assassin' I was fed a punishing and crunchy rhythm of filtered sonic bliss only to meet further grinding aural heaven with 'In A House Made Of Wires'. 'Throated' - and perhaps in an attempt to match the ferocity of the act - comes in at a blazing pace with hardly a time to breathe. Underlying an array of industrial filth in 'Tighten Up' lies an EBM beat while 'Force Fed' takes the time to let each beat slam on home with no regret. 'Iron Clad Alibi' is one of the more experimental songs on the album cranking out static noise with a well laid out duel vocal session. Perhaps out of all the songs on the album, 'Puppy' is the one that is different than the rest. Slowed, clean, and with a menacing voice coming across the song with electronic distortion, 'Puppy' served as a welcome break. 'Slums of Hell' had an almost chopped-up like presentation and the final song on the album 'Skin on Skin' did not disappoint. This final nearly five-minute anthem served as a final reminder as to why Spit Mask is dominating in their field of expertise with further experiments in sexually charged analog mastery. 

Spit Mask's "You May Feel Some Pressure" is currently available for purchase via aufnahme + wiedergabe's Bandcamp page. It is well worth every cent you spend on it whether you grab the physical or digital version. Let this album rock your playlist during this Fall season - it's well worth your time. 
Oct 17 2019