Album Review: Gaza - 'No Absolutes in Human Suffering'

Iconic pop culture film The Shawshank Redemption wisely proclaimed, “get busy living or get busy dying.” When you live in Salt Lake City there’s almost a similar philosophy. ‘Get busy joining a math metal band, or get busy being a Mormon.”

Utah exports Gaza are gritty, raw and perhaps a band that fly under the radar. Their music is too abrasive to be considered quiet, but the band, for the most part, have not assumed top tier status. Gaza still are in the underground – in a manner of speaking.

Third full length ‘No Absolutes in Human Suffering’ is again another album that is released with limited fuss. Something tells us the band wouldn’t have it any other way. Known for their strong religious (or rather anti-religious) and political views, studio album three is again a stern and decisive listen.

The overall tone is placed somewhere between the more modern elements of Converge and the sludgier tones of Down. At times, it feels like it is going to pick up in a brutal, overtly heavy manner then it shifts to downtrodden moments. In many respects, this is a positive thing as it ensures variety. Openers ‘Mostly Hair and Bones’ and ‘This We Celebrate’ identify and support this. The former is more powerful, while the latter is more brooding.

‘The Vipers’ is just a convenient bitch slap to any common and often cheesy gimmicks – it’s heavy and complex. ‘The Crown’ again begins in dense style. Closer ‘Routine and Then Death’ is just menacing. The distorted refrain that rings out ensures a considered sign off.

Gaza are a tough child to love. Their sound is not easy to grasp, but this is decent, respectable music. It doesn’t pander, it doesn’t draw on trends. Gaza are assured.

Listen to it while you’re angry, listen to it for cathartic reasons, ‘No Absolutes in Human Suffering’ is articulate and precise, but cares little for pleasing the ignorant. It’s heavy and defined. The edges are rough, but that suits Gaza just fine.

1. Mostly Hair And Bones Now

2. This We Celebrate

3. The Truth Weighs Nothing

4. Not With All The Hope In The World

5. The Vipers

6. No Absolutes In Human Suffering

7. The Crown

8. When They Beg

9. Winter In Her Blood

10. Skull Trophy

11. Routine And Then Death