by Marc van der Pol
While grindcore fanatics might downgrade this album a bit for its polished aesthetic, one cannot argue the ingenuity and true creative spirit of Need to Control. Brutal Truth, being a very unique band, incorporate elements from several different genres, including death metal, hardcore, punk, and noise; the music on this album is not so easily and debatably classified as grindcore/metal with somewhat of a hardcore-ish feel. Brutal Truth are one of the few bands that can lash out from a controlled, pounding guitar riff to a spastic free-for-all while still displaying precision and without sounding contrived. Kevin Sharp's powerful growls and nutty yelps complement the other members' obvious expertise greatly. A must-have for anyone interested in the genre(s).