BIG BLACK: ATOMIZER

SCORE: 98/100

'Atomizer' is much more than I ever could've expected it to be - and it feels wildly ahead of its time. Although it does have some sounds of its time period, they're executed in a way that makes this album still sound fresh so many decades later. The loud and instantly recognizable sound of this album has a rough and gritty edge that makes it feel incredibly potent and strikingly gripping.

I was pleasantly surprised with the sound of this album as I wasn't entirely sure what to expect (went in without ever hearing a lick of Big Black), and I was floored by how much I enjoy the sound of this album. The genre tags allured me and drew me to this album, but I wasn't sure of what it would sound like until I let it immerse me fully - which didn't take time at all.

Big Black made this album sound unlike any other "similar" albums that had been released up until this point; they take clear influence from the punk scene, but they turn this influence into something even more explosive and noisy in all of the best ways possible. The fast, rough sound of this album still manages to sound polished; like the band has it all together while still making a mess along the way.

Not only did the band help to conceptualize industrial rock further with the sounds of this album, they also helped to create one of the most iconic and highly regarded albums of the 1980s. The harsh, raw energy of this album is something that feels hard to beat, and the loud, unfiltered and noisy guitars alone make this album feel like a true work of rock art.

The fact that Big Black managed to do as much as they did on this album is impressive enough - but it's even more impressive when considering the fact that it is their debut album. Debuting with a sound this rough and still put together is a massive feat, and it's a shame that Big Black didn't stick around for a little while longer. The band's refusal to conform with rock "normalcy" and their ability to create commentaries on the most taboo of subjects makes for an album that stands high above the massive crowd of punk - and Big Black feel like more than just another punk band.

This album being made in 1986 is one of its most impressive feats. The genuineness that they used for the conceptualization of their sound, style, and ultimately this album makes it still feel like something so modern despite being released decades in the past. It's hard to realize just how long ago this album was made, and it makes it feel like that much more to marvel at.

Not only is it controversial and taboo, it's raw. This album deals with topics that not many other projects would dare to venture into, and one of the band's most controversial works lies within the very first moment of the album. It's a jarring realization when you come to find out just what some of their lyrics are discussing - but it's fascinating that they were able to make such bold commentaries on such dark topics, topics that many people wouldn't even dare to think about.

'Atomizer' is a whole lot more than just a punk album. The mix of aggressive sounds and genre meshing make for a project that is almost difficult to explain. Calling it "rough" is almost surface-level, but there's such a sharp edge present within the album that it feels like something you have to hear rather than just describe - it's an album that speaks for itself; and it does so with a loud sense of pride and utmost control.

Using drum machines rather than the traditional drumkit like other bands in the genre made this album even more unique, with a slightly industrial sound that would help to indicate where rock would go - this album being one of the most important pieces in the massive puzzle. The different tactics and usages of instruments make this album sound highly unique, giving it a sound that no other band could replicate even if they tried to.

The hugely "clanky" sound of this album is something you won't find from any other band, and the way that the band worked to revolutionize what they were doing is just as impressive as the music itself. The way that the album comes together makes it feel cohesive and highly consistent with each track, and the overall soundscapes are full of unconventional tactics that make them work to an absolute masterclass degree.

If there's multiple blueprints and handbooks on how to make a hardcore punk record, 'Atomizer' should be one of the main points of following in almost any scenario. This album manages to feel like a complete landmark in the entire genre of rock - and it's no wonder as to why it has such a highly acclaimed status.