by Alex Henderson
One of the exciting bands that came out of Britain's alternative metal underground in the early '90s was Fudge Tunnel, whose Hate Songs in E Minor appealed to thrash and grindcore audiences despite the fact that it is neither. Blistering, noisy items like &Gut Rot,& &Tweezers,& and &Soap and Water& are really too slow to be considered thrash or grindcore, but because the trio packs such a raw, jagged, punk-influenced punch, the same headbangers who were moshing to Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Gwar in the early '90s also proved receptive to Fudge Tunnel. Punk's naked aggression is a major influence on this CD, which favors rawness all the way and is without a trace of slickness -- Hate Songs in E Minor was hardly recorded with Poison and Warrant fans in mind. But Fudge does acknowledge more mainstream rock with inspired, punk-minded interpretations of Cream's &Sunshine of Your Love& and Ted Nugent's &Cat Scratch Fever& -- in fact, the trio dedicates this album to the Motor City Madman. Hate Songs in E Minor is a reckless, in-your-face gem that fans of alternative metal should make a point of searching for.