Black Congress makes me think of that awful band Black President which makes me think of how black seems to be colour of choice for bands which in turn makes me think of Bernie Mac as the self-hating cop in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. Black Congress has much more in common with the last portion of my non-sequitur in that they are both awesome. Black Congress are a noise rock/hardcore band hailing from Texas, which is probably a difficult task seeing as how you are likely to be seen under the big shadow of the Jesus Lizard, but make no mistake--Black Congress is out to show with this 7" that they are here to make their own mark and not work in the confines of the genre or any other band's legacy.

The A-side, "Davidians" showcases some fantastic hardcore rhythm work that locks right into the heavy guitars to create an accessible wall behind the effects and feedback. The vocals come creaking out distorted, but clear from the bottom of the mix to provide that essential claustrophobic quality found in noise rock. The electronic elements of guitarist Bret Shirley that slide in and out are really a focal point for the listener; accompanying the guitars' repetitious buildups, they remind me of a fax machine or a modem dialing but have a musical quality that couldn't be replicated in found sounds. The B-side showcases some awesome tempo shifts and a hooky refrain of "London's burning!" set off against the somewhat more plodding nature of the A-side.

If there was any justice in this world, Black Congress' Davidians would serve as a kick in the ass of inspiration to legions of bands that like to label themselves heavy but end up sounding flaccid and empty when the needle hits the record. If you consider yourself a fan of AmRep Records or hardcore bands that dabble in metal (like Cursed), do yourself a favour and pick this 7" up as it is a near-perfect slice of noise.