I’m not gonna lie- there isn’t one single original note on the debut from Baltimore’s deathccore/metalcore kids Whisteria Cottage- not a single one. However, they do deliver the expected deathcore stylings with a level of confidence and skill that should make them appeal fans clamoring for this stuff.

The band that immediately came to mind was As Blood Runs Black (I actually almost sang “BRING THA MUTHA FUCKIN RUCKUS” during the first breakdown of “Devour Thy Throne”); dual vocals, a hint of melody in the slicing At The Gate-ish blast beats, sturdy breakdowns and the youthful energy that delivers the songs with no care for its complete lack of originality. As strange as it sounds, the band also seems almost throwback (to 2005 mind you) in their structures, avoiding the sudden infatuation with solo overload or total shred fests. The themes are also neither forcing themselves to be death metal or completely stupid as the band play it safe lyrically with the likes of “Pathology of Our Existence”, “Human Disfigurement”, “Your Cremation, Our Reclamation” and “A Misconception” – all very middle of the road stuff that should not alienate either fan base.

At that’s the same musically as the Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Woe of Tyrants, Glasgow Grin, etc) production glosses the music with a familiar, clean, precise tone as interchangeable but tightly played and energetic tracks mix galloping dual melodies and some sturdy breakdowns that are familiar but enjoyable though nowhere near as heavy as label mates Chelsea Grin. However, Whisteria Cottage is the more developed varied of the two, but within the confines of deathcore neither are particular distinctive- but that’s not the goal.

To their credit, there’s no interlude or clean vocal or introspection, just 11 short, sharp tracks of focused deathcore that while hardly defining the genre, does a solid job of doing the genre some justice.

[Visit the band's website]

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