10 Years' Latest Should Not Be Filed Under Miscellaneous

Nashville leaps off your geographic Rolodex when the state of Tennessee gets mentioned right? The music history comes out of the walls constantly. You shouldn't let that get you thinking Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and Merle Haggard alone. The alt-metal handiwork of 10 Years stems from there as well, and has been doing so since 1999, the year teen pop and the Latin invasion were dominating the Billboard charts. "Miscellanea" zeroes in on its target and pummels it repeatedly with a devilishly fine hostility that proves these aren't little angels who always donated copious cash to the collection plate. You can divide this song into the "inhale" portion and the "exhale" portion. "Inhale" is comprised of lead vocalist Jesse Hasek screeching until his tonsils threaten to detach. That's pure suffering for your art. Not that what he's "singing" about wouldn't require an alien to English translator but that's not enough to spoil the view from our wide angle lens. He's amplified to the maximum level. That bonus juice carries over to the rest of the band. It frees up room for lead guitarist Brian Vodinh to load up on uncompromising anger. And what about his drumming? Any of you outed/still in the closet WWE fans know what a pile driver looks like. Imagine Brian's pummel barrage coming off the raw recording bearing much the same merciless disrespect for human sanity. Ryan (Tater) Johnson keeps impeccable time on rhythm guitar. Turning our attention to "exhale" you'd be best suited locking in on that toxin releasing piano sequence. You can't stay on dialed up intensity forever. I'm a poet who loves literary name dropping but "Miscellanea" takes its book smarts beyond typical nerd territory. Closing in on line two "You've got the womb I love to intrude" ventures into TMI turf with nary an oops to excuse their social indiscretion. Later on in this story out comes "Screaming sirens sing the blues. We play to lose." You remember how "Seinfeld" garnered that rep as the big hit show about nothing. Well my friends, "Miscellanea" doesn't cleave to any consistent plot line either. This outfit's ace in the hole focuses squarely on the musicians' dedication to their craft. High salary sports stars get accused of taking a down off. 10 Years could never be accused of that. The drums punish. The guitars tear at your insides sadistically. The vocals grab you by the scruff of the neck, pin you to the wall, and repeatedly remind you that resistance is futile. Easing into the piano presents physiological sensations similar to both entering and exiting a whirlpool bath...you're refreshed top to bottom. Toweling off from either vantage point has sizable benefits. Confessedly it can be fun sticking around to hear the intellectual ramblings of a mad man. 10 Years doesn't lose traction because Jesse wears his tormented heart well. It's about the playing, no more, no less. "Miscellanea" doesn't crater under the weight of book scholar journal note scribblings. Lean into the testosterone with all you've got. That's how you'll fully appreciate the pep 10 Years inserts into your shoes.