Reviews list for Cable - Variable Speed Drive (1996)

Do you ever wonder if you think there should be something altered in its history without lowering too much of its value? That is a frequent thought, isn't it? When you don't know if what you think would be more suitable for a band that would've caused them to rise higher or fall lower. You can't change the past, but you can live with what's available. That feeling I can have listening to Cable's debut Variable Speed Drive, which is still marked an enjoyable mathy metalcore escapade!

Cable evolved throughout the over 25 years since they've released their debut, and they've made 7 full-length albums and a couple EPs, splits, and compilations. Before their switch to sludge in subsequent albums, Variable Speed Drive bashes through 90s noise-metalcore at as much tremendous ease as Deadguy.

Blasting off is "Needles Vs. Nails", completely discordant except for pleasant melody exploding into a triumphant climax before the verse drags you back down. My favorite track here is "Steel Cage Match", a highlight in which the anger and passion makes up for the slight unpolished mistakes. "Sick Little Ritual" is absolutely sick and wacky, to have fun jamming along to out of your hardcore mind.

"Water.Down.Rock" is paced slightly close to doom while having that hardcore "fight-anthem" vibe. Whereas "Carolina Eyes" takes that brooding side on in a more hypnotic way. There's still more fast metalcore madness to come...

"Lie Detector", I'm not gonna lie, is a very killer track worth headbanging. "The Sinking Vessel" continues the dissonant guitar that would be more prominent in metalcore from the 2000s onwards, especially in the breakdowns. "PaperPlaneCrash" is one more standout that reminds me of Converge at that time, with more abrasive delivery yet having a good amount of melody.

Variable Speed Drive has intrigued hardcore/metalcore fans by adding elements that barely co-existed before. The thing I would change would be the production to sound more polished, but I know the rawness should be left as is for the "noisecore" trend. Plus, it's balanced out by the then-rare-in-metalcore melody, so it's all good either way....

Favorites: "Steel Cage Match", "Sick Little Ritual", "Lie Detector", "PaperPlaneCrash"