The reigning kings of grind/thrash are back once again; but this time with an offering of their metal assault live. Recorded in October at the Black Stump Festival in Australia, this album is a great introduction to anyone who has not had the opportunity to see them live.
Side one starts off with vocalist/bassist Steve Rowe getting the crowd pumped up, and then goes into the album's namesake, "Grind Planetarium," and then goes straight into "Distarnish Priest." This album could really be used as a "best of" for the band, due to the structure of songs. For example, next from their debut comes "Brutal Warfare" and "Destroyer Beholds," and then "Inflamed" and the title cut from Scrolls of the Megilloth.
Former Mortification drummer and current Paramaecium drummer Jayson Sherlock filled in for the band, and since he recorded all the tunes originally for the band, did a superior job. Hats off to producer Doug Saunders, who has done the band's last two albums, for bringing forth an incredibly rich and full sound. The album sounds hot!
Side two brings two new cuts, "Symbiosis," written by guitarist Michael Carlisle, which shows a big Tourniquet influence lyrically, and "Time Crusaders," which is in typical fashion for the band. They salute Bloodgood by doing a great cover of "Black Snake." Yes, "The Majestic Infiltration of Order" and "This Momentary Affliction" are here, as well as "From the Valley of the Shadows" and "Human Condition" rounding out an excellent live album. After listening to Live Planetarium, I felt as if I just saw Mortification in concert.