Have you ever unconsciously drifted from a genre and then you hear some new band that totaly gets you back into it? Well its been a little while since I’ve really enjoyed death metal that didn’t have the words “progressive”, “avant garde” or “doom” tagged on them. Those Who Bring The Torture completely made me see why death metal is awesome.

Honestly though, this is a pretty damn good album, regardless of genre or what I’m “into” this month. This is no bullshit brutal death. Songs range in length between 2 and 4 minutes. The production is meaty and chunky, and the performances are spot on. While not wildly creative, they do a very good job with the songwritting. Each song does what it should.  It’s so easy in this style to let each song sound like the last.  Though they don’t vary greatly, they stay interesting and show a good amount of variety, with a definite direction.

“Napalm God” opens the album with some absolutely vitriolic grind. Blasts are littered throughout this album, and used pretty well. I’m usually not a fan of them, but TWBTT do it with taste, and sparingly enough. “Mutant Slut” comes next and pumps out some pretty scathing thrash riffs. “All Hail The Goat (Lord of Great Mutilation)” slows things down for a classic death metal beat down. Also a good injection of melody, which I wish happened more often on the record. “You Should Be Brutally Slaughtered” boasts a great lead guitar line towards the end. I mean, these guys write some really effective riffs, and though they’re melodic enough, its so striking to hear a soaring line over them. Don’t get me wrong, this in no way ever approaches melodic death territory (if that might worry you). Check out “Reveler In Rot” as well. It reminds me a little of how Bloodbath uses melody.

I must point that they use samples pretty well. I guess they’re all movie samples, but I have no idea from what movies. They’re all very short, and used at the right moment. Sometimes they open a track, but often times they come in as a sweet riff is getting started, or as the pace is changing. For some reason it makes it so much more enjoyable. Especially since the samples are so unintelligable. Mostly just people screaming, gun shots, chicken clucks (I know, what the fuck??). I also really enjoy the song titles. They’re not over the top, but they show that this band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. I mean really, “Mutant Slut”? That just made me smile when I saw it. “Riders On The Mushroomcloud” is another one. They conjure some amusing imagery.

On the downside, I feel this album is severely lacking in guitar solos. “Expecting a Search – Visibly Hiding The Flesh” has a really short one, which really isn’t that good. It’s a small drawback, though it’d be nice to hear some shredding once in a while.  But then again, this is a pretty new band, with only a demo before this album.  Given some time they could be among the best in the genre.  All in all, this is a fun listen. The songs do sometimes blend together, but each is still enjoyable. Those Who Bring The Torture, while not innovative, do everything right. If you enjoy good death metal, you’d enjoy this. ‘Nuff said.

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