Kansas City four-piece Missouri Executive Order 44 are Jarom Johnson – vocals, Elos Olsen – Guitar/Samples/Vocals, Esau Fullmer – Bass/Vocals and Malachi Hatch on Drums/Vocals. Their unusual name derives from an unpalatable moment in their state's history in 1838 when governor Lilburn Boggs issued an order stating that "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace." This was executed due to tensions between native residents and an increasing Mormon population.
The band present an interesting image clad as they are in bike helmets and white shirts which signifies LDS evangelists. Contrary to a lot of their Hardcore brethren who tend to rail against religion, the band have instead allied themselves with the Mormons as a show of demonstration against state oppression. Formed only in the past couple of years Salt Sermon follows up from the Seventeen Dead in Caldwell County debut EP and the band have supported the likes of The Callous Daoboys, Portrayal of Guilt, Heavenly Blue, Frail Body, Bib, Knoll and more.
It would appear the album is aptly titled seeing as the twenty six second intro track 'Riding the Rail' is a spoken-word sermon, a pattern which repeats itself for a good portion of the album.' The Unbuckling' recalls the kind of unpredictable Metalcore/Mathcore that was Coalesce's stock in trade. Unhinged sound-wise, the music builds an almost unbearable amount of tension before exploding in a thrilling Grindcore style conclusion. 'Wear Me like a Mitt, Romney' is more direct, launching into a brutally efficient Locust style attack with particular reference points to Drummer Gabe Serbian (RIP). Despite Republican politician Mitt Romney (the tracks 'protagonist') being a practicing mormon, one would assume that his political positions don't exactly align with the band's own, thus making the track a satirical piece. 'I Would Kill Anyone for You' is absolutely fantastic, tearing away with Powerviolence style gumption after the obligatory spoken-word intro with which many comparisons can be drawn ala Disrupt, Dropdead, Infest etc.
'Seven is a Holy Number' mirrors 'The Unbuckling' in some respect with its Math-Rock vibes and winding mid-paced approach while 'Get on Your Knees and Fight like a Man' is pure Noise with garbled, slowed down Vocals, as if offering us a parody of what a gospel is. 'Let's Jump a Cowboy Together!' alternates brilliantly between Dillinger Escape Plan madness with touches of Jesus Lizard claustrophobia and Millport's Demise' is an interlude with ambient atmospherics that leads seamlessly to 'Christian Pornography'. More conventional sound-wise (for this band anyway), the Hardcore and Noise-Metal backdrop had yours truly recalling Will Haven (WHVN era, more specifically 'Jaworski' from that record), particularly Grady Avenell's throat-shredding Vocals and I for one ain't complaining. 'Salt Sermon' is a Doom laden piece with some nice Industrial and Dark Ambient intonations that in spots had a Gridfailure feel about it and finally 'They Built a Bass Pro Shop in our Zion' the album's longest track at nearly three and a half minutes, features spectacular Drumming throughout (especially the Jazz flourishes at the beginning) and Today is the Day's harsh blend of Slayer and King Crimson around the time of 1993's Supernova debut (and my favourite of theirs). A stunning conclusion.
Being jointly released by Learning Curve and The Ghost is Clear Records, Salt Sermon is typical of what can be expected from both labels; experimental uncompromising music which defies both genres and expectations. At only fifteen minutes the album is roughly the same length as The Circle Jerks Group Sex and just as essential.
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