There's nothing like a bit of ambiguity, and Godzilla Black are shot through with it. Take for example the fact that despite a relatively ardent search for information we still can't figure out exactly who's in the band. Or the opening line that graces this, the band's debut album: "I'm the kind of girl that makes you want to get a sex change". Quite how that line affects you rather depends on how you were blessed in the gender stakes ”“ as such it doesn't so much hit the target as splatter possibilities across the wall. Then there's the frantic nature of the band itself. They jump across several genres as if they don't exist (which of course they don't: they're all in your mind), pirouette on the grave of common sense, and partake in gratuitous self indulgence and yet still manage to sound for the most part, fucking awesome.'Fear of a Flat Planet' kicks things off with a fuzz-filled bass line, rolling tribal drums and some rather neat percussion that sounds as if it was borrowed directly from Mr Bungle's California album. Within seconds they've ensnared you and then you're heading straight for that opening line. By the time you've worked out just what kind of girl would encourage you to consider a sex change, you're being propelled towards a rather unsettling mid-section which evokes the black and white terror of invaders from mars, and an ill-fated charity gig by the Bedlam tabernacle choir. By the end you're on board the mothership and waving goodbye to your sanity.'The Bad Place' continues the feel-good vibe gone bad. The overall feel is like visiting the carnival with a belly full of vodka and a brain full of psychoactive drugs. Musically, it's hard to avoid the mounting certainty that the band are probably fans of all things Mike Patton. If 'Fear of A Flat Planet' hinted at late period Mr Bungle then 'The Bad Place' draws its inspiration from Tomahawk's sinister dynamics.'From Here To Clare' meanwhile heads into new wave territory, grabs B52s' 'Rock Lobster' and boils it alive. The B-movie screaming that accompanies the majority of the song never seems to end, and eventually through sheer repetition becomes entirely unsettling and somewhat distracting ”“ a bit of a shame, because the drumming that closes the track is simply stunning.'Insect Day' also manages to disturb quite convincingly ”“ being a nest for insect eggs is not something anyone would particularly enjoy, but when it is being sung about in the style of The Paper Chase as it is here, there is at least something of an upside.Elsewhere there's bezerk interludes that are something of an opportunity for the band to showcase their percussive skills ('Burning Wires'), and what sounds like the only known soundtrack to a Vampire Surf Movie ('First Bite In').Indulgence in noise and more distressed vocals make an appearance on 'Disease#1/I'll Kill You if You Don't' . You could accuse the band of being wilfully "crazy" at this point, but the conviction it's done with means that they just about get away with it.'The Drought' begins with a flurry of Zorn inspired horns, furious riffing, and break neck drumming. This is all mixed-up with a clever delivered vocal and some nicely picked cinematic samples. One part Melvins, one part Naked City it's one of the finest moments here.The band calm things down towards the end of the album with the almost meditative 'I'm a Resident', but by the time they hit 'Enjoy Yourself!' they've got their tails up and are back to channelling more pumped up sounds. This time they throw pretty much everything against the wall just to see what sticks. Electro squeals, Ornette Coleman horns, redneck-aliens apparently chanting down the mic, and drums that wouldn't be out of place at a Lightning Bolt gig. It's totally thrilling.Click to download Godzilla Black for free, in high quality mp3 format