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THE CORY SMOOT EXPERIMENT
www.metalblade.com/smootfamilyfund
Recorded in 2010 at Cory Smoot’s Karma Studios and intended to be released as a concept album entitled ‘Religion is Fiction’ featuring a number of Smoot’s favourite vocalists, ‘When Worlds Collide’ is the almost-complete project left behind following his untimely death (all proceeds are being donated to the fund set up by Metal Blade found by following the link above). The tracks deliver much in the way of variation in terms of styles and dynamic structures. Mixing slow burners such as ‘Fortunate Sun’ and ‘Countdown to Oblivion’ with ruthless riff-heavy tracks such as ‘The Blood Red’ and ‘Religion is Fiction’ – a track that would have gone down a storm in the live environment given its rapid riffs and sheer intensity – and the heavy and discordant ‘Mutilation’, there are a number of surprises across the album. The acoustic guitar work of ‘Brainfade’ brings a new dimension to the album and, with the melodic latter half, demonstrates a side to Smoot’s abilities that would have been good to see more of. However, ‘The Gauntlet’s funky slap-bass middle section and the self-indulgence of the title track prove to be among the weak moments, of which there are more than a few. But all is forgiven with ‘Sloth Loves Chunk’, a track that would bring a smile to the face of many a funk/jazz/prog afficianado with a hankering for some cool guitar work.

Smoot’s vocals aren’t the best, but given what they were to become, that’s unimportant because the melodies and harmonies are pretty good; and so as you’d expect, it’s the guitar work that leads the album. There are moments when it feels like a guitar master class (particularly in the title track), but there are plenty of chunky and monstrously savage riffs strewn throughout the twelve tracks that make it a worthwhile listen. Of course, it would have been great to hear this album as Smoot had envisioned it, and what remains is an album that would clearly have benefitted from a much-improved production, a little more time ironing out the creases, and the presence of the vocalists he had in mind. ‘When Worlds Collide’ may not be the album that it could/should have been but it’s a fine reminder of what an accomplished musician Cory Smoot was and is worth giving a blast.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Metal Blade
Album
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
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Review by Jason Guest
RUNNING TIME:
40:20
RELEASE DATE:
5th June 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) The Blood Red
2) Fortunate Sun
3) Religion if Fiction
4) Rebirth
5) Brainfade
6) Mandatory Purgatory
7) Countdown to Oblivion
8) The Gauntlet
9) When Worlds Collide
10) Mutation
11) Hollow Tree; 12) Sloth Loves Chunk
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA
"‘When Worlds Collide’ may not be the album that it could/should have been but it’s a fine reminder of what an accomplished musician Cory Smoot was and is worth giving a blast."
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