Amid 2010’s big name death metal releases, some smaller and more obscure but no less competent, enjoyable releases more than likely crept under your radar. Releases by the likes of Tormenticon, Fleshrot, Entrails, Scrambled Defuncts, Aosoth, Grind Inc, Domination Through Impurity, Burial Invocation and Syn:drom, which might not get the praise and attention as say Decrepit Birth, Kataklysm, Defeated Sanity, Brain Drill, Aeon and such, but should still be heard by death metal aficionados.
And while this oddly monikered Canadian band and their rather disturbing cover may seem like just another by the numbers self-promoting death metal band, the fact is, this nine song debut CD is actually pretty good. With current and former members having ties to several underground and unsigned Canadian acts (Skepsis, The Order From Chaos, The Dead Cold, Begrime Exemious), the experience is here and shows this isn’t just a myspace band ― their music backs it up.
Plying a form of death metal that mixes equal parts Floridian complexity (Cannibal Corpse maybe?) and Belgian chunk, these six tracks comprise a very study, workman like efforts that makes no pretenses about being anything other than death metal. There are no any real highlights per say―as the album is pretty consistent from start to finish―but opener “Visceral Remains” has a nice chunky gallop and a solid mid song solo as well as some grimy blasting. “Blood Stained Ceiling” has a twisted lurch and blast and even a svelte arpeggio, showing these guys have a grasp on melody when needed. Surprisingly so. A little bit of “WTF?” (a jazzy little bass run) surfaces for the otherwise rollicking title track and the suitably titled lope of “The Bludgeoning” is an enjoyable mid-paced romp. For an eight minute death metal song―with its catchy, thrashy cadence―”Transcendence Ritual” has some real staying power.
The album’s last three tracks come from the band’s Spontaneous Decapitation demo from 2008 . While they lack the punchy beefy production of the six new tracks, they have the same songwriting chops with variety shifting between intense bludgeoning, sly melodies (“Spontaneous Decapitation”, “The Empath”) and lurching heft (“Demon Rot”).
In all, a nice little surprise and a band I’ll definitely be watching out for from the corner of my eye.
[Visit the band's website]Find more articles with 2010, Death Toll Rising, E.Thomas, Review, Self-Released
Comments
Leave a Reply
Will have to check this out… always looking for some good new death along the lines of what you mentioned.
Speaking of it was very cool to see you mention Grind Inc. It is painful how overlooked those guys are and they’re one of the best death metal bands period in my opinion. You heard the new one? FUCKING SLAYS just like all their others… I just wish it was easier to obtain here in the states.
on Aug 25th, 2010 at 12:29I checked their myspace – this is pretty good stuff here, I’ll have to hear more of it. Nice review as always Erik.
on Aug 26th, 2010 at 14:49“Defecation Suffocation”…
…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Song/album titles are my favorite thing about this genre! I love it!
on Aug 27th, 2010 at 07:11Yeah Reignman- Grind Incs new one is very nice- im scheduled to review it over at metalreview.com
on Aug 27th, 2010 at 10:50