Traditional music such as cowboy songs and tear-jerking lullabies remain popular in Iceland, whilst international success has greeted the Sugarcubes and that band's former lead singer, Björk. So forgive me for being amazed and surprised upon discovering that this same country has spawned Minus, a band who perhaps by default of there lonely surroundings have created their own unique and cathartic take on hardcore that is certain to stir up a storm.

The record hits the ground running and it would take a coma victim not to take notice of this unorthodox sound as it chaotically finds its way so early in the disc. "Leisure", "Misdo" and "Denver" follow in this vein of ensuring that not only the band grab your attention, they keep it. The vocals are so off the scale that his Zao like shrieks sound relatively normal when compared to the dalek tone he emits from time to time, not forgetting the Jello Biafara sounding rants of "Modern Haircuts".

With the technical brilliance of bands such as Drowningman, Dillinger Escape Plan and as crushing as anything metal has to offer, Minus are the aural equivalent of hell freezing over. You have your noisecore elements mixed with mid paced V.O.D. stylings that have been chewed up and spat out in what the band describe themselves as disgusting noise. However, disgusting is hardly a word you would use to describe the acoustic "Arctic Exhibition" or melodic vocals of "Pulse" which offer a breather in the proceedings.

For want of a balanced review the only criticism I could possibly aim at the record is its production which upon first listen I found rather poor but over numerous listens you become accustom to. "Jesus Christ Bobby" is quite possibly the best thing to come from Iceland since Halldór Laxness (who?) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955. You decide.