http://www.daredevilrecords.de/reviews/2003/September.htm

HARDCORE (the genre the both bands fit most into) out of Bavaria is celebrated on this split album. For JOHN DEERE this marks the first output so far, I/O released some material before. I/O starts it of with the short and rude PUNK song CONCRETE AIR LIBERTY, this track shows the love for the english HARDCORE/PUNK scene which shines on through also on some other tracks (I’am talking of bands like RIPCORD, CONCRETE SOX, not the newer tough guy scene). On the following two WAKING HOUR and I AM THE LORD OF HELLWATER show a total different face. The songwriting is mainly influenced by the likes of NOMEANSNO, tons of killer breaks, some tempo changes and the dominat choruses, especially in I AM… ERDMÖBEL is one of three tracks with german lyrics. The track itself surprises with some almost progressive elements, the fine guitar work has a minor VOIVOD touch to it. ACT LIKE NOTHINGS WRONG is the most melodic track, this also goes out for the vocals, but the track gets wilder and harsher at the end. GO TAKE YOUR PILLS BOY sounds more like the newer style lets say REFUSED, the songs is also blessed with a killer break. With BULLSHIT PROPAGANDA they pay tribute to the great EXTREME NOISE TERROR. The I/O version is faster, more brutal and even the dual vocals can be found here, done by Marce (bass). So this is entertainment, take your time at let yourself get could in the sound maze. The production also pleases, so go ahead support them.

http://www.poisonfree.com/reviews/records/rev_detail.php?reviewID=1045

I/O, who have been around since 1987, kick this split CD off with fast and furious hardcore in the vein of Ripcord. Their second song, entitled Waking Hour was a let down, cause of clearly sung vocals and a tame songwriting that lead into the vortex of nothing. My high expectations got the boot once again in the third song, that stayed in the vein of song no. 2, with a mid paced tune that did nothing for me. The fourth song is even slower with throaty shouted German lyrics, maybe like Sabeth would sound like if they didn´t rule. On the following songs some nice samples and quirky vocal ideas are used and an Extreme Noise Terror cover of Bullshit Propaganda is also thrown in, but nevertheless I/O left me pretty blank. I wished they would have stayed with the style of their first song, through their entire recording.

http://www.allschools.net/recordReview.php3?ID=12282

27 Tracks pures Grindcore-Massaker ­ hatte ich mir zumindest beim Überfliegen der Band-Biographien erhofft, aber irgendwie ist es so eine Sache mit dem Hoffen...aber erst mal der Reihe nach. I/O (Insurmountable Obstacle) bezeichnen den Genuss ihrer Musik selbst als „Uneasy listening“ und dem kann ich nur voll und ganz beipflichten. Das seltsame Soundgemisch aus Grind-Versatzstücken (grösstenteils Gesang) und schrägem Punk-Riffing strapaziert zumindest meine Nerven derart dass ich mir diesen Teil der CD kaum ein weiteres Mal geben kann (der Mut, den alten Extreme Noise Terror Song „Bullshit Propaganda“ auf solche Art und Weise zu covern kann ich mit blutendem Fanherzen auch nur als reine Blasphemie betiteln).

http://www.throwintodisorder.de/reviews3hn.html

Zu I/O, die ebenfalls in Bayern beheimatet sind, weiß ich ehrlich gesagt nicht wirklich was ich schreiben soll. Ziemlich eigenwilliger, verspielter und schräg daherkommender Punk Noise, der mich in seinen besten Momenten ein wenig an Nomeansno erinnert. Insgesamt ist ihr Psycho Sound aber ein ziemliches Unikat.

INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACE gründeten sich bereits 1987, doch warum zum Teufel habe ich in all den Jahren noch nie was von euch gehört oder gelesen?! Verdammt noch mal, dabei spielt dieses Trio eine unglaublich interessante Bandbreite von Hard- bis hin zu Grindcore. Und es gibt bereits einige Veröffentlichungen?! So eine Band wäre mir doch aufgefallen und das in Bayern?! Gut! Weitermachen!