PLATINUM MOSH, VOL. III
THE TOP FIVE FAVORITE BREAKDOWNS AND MOSH PARTS OF GEORGE NOBLE (YOUR DEMISE 2004), ALEX HEINRICH (WORN OUT), JESSE GUTIERREZ AND KOREY KEETON (SOVEREIGN STRENGTH), AND LUCA “PIGO” DE SIMONE (GRAVERY)
PHOTO CREDIT: JOEL MUNIZ
Breakdowns and mosh parts: if you’re anything like me, your appetite for them is insatiable. As part of a running series, each Platinum Mosh installment brings together figures from the world of heavy music to share their five favorites.
On Volume I, vocalist Frankie Pierri of Monsters included the Acacia Strain’s “Carbomb.” Following reading the feature, a close friend texted me, “Hey, remember when we threw [name redacted] into a ceiling fan while listening to ‘Carbomb’?” This is the essential work I’m doing here, you understand.
On this, Volume III, I’m joined by: vocalist George Noble of “British Terror” (my words) Your Demise 2004; Alex Heinrich, guitarist for Irish metallic hardcore band Worn Out; guitarist Jesse Gutierrez and bassist Korey Keeton of California mosh merchants Sovereign Strength; and vocalist Luca “Pigo” De Simone from the Italian deathcore band Gravery. So…
“Y’all ready for this?”
George Noble
Unearth - “The Great Dividers”
(1:58 [at 2:09 below])
It was tough to pick one off of this album, let alone any breakdown of this band’s entire back catalogue. I actually think they’re the kings of breakdowns. The perfect balance of metal and hardcore. To think you’re starting an album like this with a breakdown like “The Great Dividers”…it’s a bold statement. But Unearth just always seem to bring the ruckus again and again and again. Sickos.
Suicide Silence - “Destruction of a Statue”
(1:14)
Because this breakdown is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard that runs as a prelude to the most phenomenal and glorious sounding guitar parts of a song. For some reason, the old live recording version with the family guy clip intro cuts differently.
Shattered Realm - “All Will Suffer”
Need I say anything?
I have absolutely no respect for anyone that didn’t choose this breakdown… You might as well just go listen to Robbie Williams or Shania Twain.
Death Threat - “Dead at Birth”
(1:26)
DT is my favourite band by a long-shot so needed an honourable mention at the very least. This is the grooviest of breakdowns that pops into a fucking naughty two step. All the while you can commandeer round the flailing limbs to scream along to one of the hardest vocal parts in your best darlek accent.
Adamantium - “It Dies Today”
(2:01 [at 2:12 below])
Another of the grooviest and moodiest breakdowns with the most pitter patter-y piss-take kick drums I’ve ever heard. When that double kick comes into towards the end it just makes me see red. I can’t listen to this song while I drive. Ridiculous song. Insane breakdown.
Alex Heinrich
Hi there, my name is Alex and I play the guitar in the metallic hardcore band WORN OUT. Thinking of my 5 favorite breakdowns was not as easy as I thought, but I narrowed it down to 5 which are really memorable to me. In no particular order because I absolutely cannot rank them:
Ion Dissonance - “Play Dead… And I’ll Play Along”
(at 2:39)
I will never forget the first time I heard this song after a band member of my old band just handed me the CD and said, “Here, you might dig this.” I could comprehend what was going on and when everything culminated in that super complex breakdown my little mind was blown and Dissonance became a permanent fixture in my life. Also that “moshcall”: “I am giving you a choice, kill yourself or someone you love”—it must be up there with the greatest.
Eighteen Visions - “Tower of Snakes”
(at 2:20 [2:13 in below version])
I am sure this breakdown needs no introduction as it is a classic for metalcore of the 2000s. It has chugs, it has minor second dissonant notes and one memorable vocal line. Simple, heavy, to the point.
Meshuggah - “New Millennium Cyanide Christ”
(at 4:21)
This breakdown has become a fixture for our bass player Brian and myself, and it is an unwritten rule that if one of us initiates it, the other one has to chime in and play along. And to top it off, the music video for this song has to be one of the funniest low budget videos ever. 5 dudes playing air instruments in the back of a van, genius!
War From A Harlots Mouth - “If You Want To Blame Us For Something Wrong, Please Abuse This Song!”
(at 0:47)
People have been doing the machine-gun sample over a breakdown for ages but in my opinion nobody ever executed it better than the late and great War From a Harlots Mouth from Berlin, Germany (RIP). When they played this live, you could be sure there was absolute mayhem happening in front of the stage.
Knocked Loose - “Deep in the Willow”
(at 3:03)
Probably the kings of modern breakdowns. Nobody does it better in my opinion and it is very hard to choose the very best one. So I am just sticking with one of the most popular ones. Obviously it has to be the one with the hardest moshcall. How can you just call out your own band name and then obliterate everything? Seeing them turn everything into shreds live was just insane.
Jesse Gutierrez and Korey Keeton
(Jesse)
Remembering Never - “White Devil”
The whole song, the song is just so pissed off. Made my Christian heart freak out a bit the first time I heard the first line right before the first breakdown, but it hits so hard!
Sleeping Giant - “Blame It on the Holy Rollers”
It’s so iconic, once that bass hits it’s so heavy.
The Acacia Strain - “Woah! Shut It Down”
Definitely a core memory for me hearing that for the first time live, the “I have given up on you” breakdown.
(Korey)
Eighteen Visions - “Vanity”
Not the heaviest song all around, but at 3:31 [3:24 below] the song is the best thing I’ve ever heard. The feeling, the creativity in the simplicity of the riff. The break down, the drum creativity and the perfect breaks. I love it. Favorite segment of a song ever.
Martyr AD - “American Hollow”
Chaotic fast to vocal break slow panic breakdown. Nothing better. Can punch through a grizzly bear hearing this.
Luca “Pigo” De Simone
Bodysnatcher - “Black of My Eyes”
I love when a song starts with no metaphors. Straight to the point, relentless breakdowns throughout the whole song, but gently mixed with other elements just to take your attention away for a second from the previous breakdown, making you even more thirsty for the next one.
Your neck will be subjected to atrocious suffering, but you won't be able to resist moving your head for 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
I love this combo, and I’m craving for more.
The Acacia Strain - “Cauterizer”
As a lover of extended breakdowns that take up entire songs, I couldn't leave out this classic. The leads throughout the slower sections are a signature feature that stuck with me for years to come. One of those songs you could swear came out yesterday... but it was actually 12 years ago, give or take.
END - “Necessary Death”
One of the best breakdowns I've heard in the last few years, perfectly built up and perfectly placed. Simple and straightforward, yet absolutely merciless in its violence. I love how the entire song builds this sense of anguish, leading to that final explosion. To me, one of the best-written songs of the last 10 or 15 years. A masterpiece. If I ever do a cover, this is the one.
DISTANT - “Nothing Left To Hate”
Starting a song with a callout? Why not? This combo never disappoints. Song after song, they keep surprising me with breakdowns that are always better, more violent and more impactful. And with one of the best vocalists in the scene (in my opinion), they can only get heavier and more crushing. And I can assure you, they are even more violent live than on record.
Bound in Fear - “Three Knee Deep”
Still on the subject of crushing combos, this is the peak. And just when you think there are already enough breakdowns, you find yourself waiting for the next one... and the next one... and when the song finally ends, your neck needs a chiropractor. But that's how it's supposed to be, after all.