This duo from Astoria (of the Queens variety) has followed up its ambitiously-titled Bible Songs 1 album (released six years ago) with another set of bruises. While Thad Calabrese and Justin Foley frequently use religious imagery and themes for their work, there's not a lot of connection between the titles and the music.

The Austerity Program Bible Songs 2 (Controlled Burn Records)

Perhaps best described as Swans playing over Godflesh's drum machine (or as they note themselves: "The serious business is handled by our drum machine"), these songs are both sparse and utterly bonecrushing. As for the actual lyrics, I'll once again defer to the band: "Fear. Paranoia. Desperation. All the hits."

Are the songs as clever as the promo material? Yes. Kinda. I'd say the music is more clever and the lyrics somewhat more wrung out. There are a number of spectacular lines, but generally these songs unfold as stream-of-consciousness rants that occasionally coalesce into diamonds. The music is more kinetic than Swans (the drum machine helps with that), and the asides that Foley and Calabrese make on guitar and bass, respectively, can be quite stunning.

Most of all, this is an exercise in self-inflicted pain. Do the songs have anything to do with the titles (which are Bible verses)? I have a few Bibles lying around (they're useful for driving away the evangelizing old ladies that frequently terrorize my neighborhood), and yeah, there is a reference here and there. In particular, "Joshua 7:6-26" does vaguely summarize the passage, though the commentary overwhelms.

If you like your music loud, hard, lean and mean, the Austerity Program is the ticket. Utterly vicious, but not depraved in the least. Just really fucking mean. Turn this up loud enough and you might drive the roaches out of the walls and away from your place. If they don't die first. Absolutely the best album this year for getting stoned--that is, getting buried under a hail of rocks. Bleed out in bliss.

Jon Worley