tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87497814382937332212024-03-06T03:57:55.308-05:00SLAM-MINDEDNick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-30053692580468946752021-03-28T10:39:00.004-04:002021-03-28T10:44:40.984-04:00Asphyxiate - Altar of Decomposed (2021; New Standard Elite)<p>Slam in 2021 continues to impress with not one, not two, but <u>three</u> new NSE releases, each of which is satisfying in its own way. First up, we're going to take a look at Indonesian brutality purveyors <b>Asphyxiate</b>'s new album, <i>Altar of Decomposed</i>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsTtITcUDFE6Kvn0CvZiHExiJKdTTqV4eRO1SgXf93fIbB32rfqgD4qRGMj8IrvWkOfSuo5bZyUegtMF731CCsI8bO-dTbsq21ZLcUWQjjwF_-JpvdnYVRPZTHlwu4C5kFH8fBFZJkg5C/s1200/a2762795724_10.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsTtITcUDFE6Kvn0CvZiHExiJKdTTqV4eRO1SgXf93fIbB32rfqgD4qRGMj8IrvWkOfSuo5bZyUegtMF731CCsI8bO-dTbsq21ZLcUWQjjwF_-JpvdnYVRPZTHlwu4C5kFH8fBFZJkg5C/w210-h210/a2762795724_10.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">This is <b>Asphyxiate</b>'s first album in eight years, and the amount of work they've put in between the years following <i>Self Transform From Decayed Flesh</i> up until the present day is evident in how absolutely fucking great this is. Now, I would never say I was a giant fan of this band's previous works, as, although they've generally been solid works of Indonesian brutality, they do bear a lot of the hallmarks and pitfalls of that scene's sound: raw-ish, thin production, vocals that are well-performed and passionately-delivered but not really superb overall, odd mixing, and songs that don't feel overall satisfying or memorable despite a high ratio of good to meh riffs.</div></span></div><p></p><p>Right off the bat, we can hear a thicker, more bludgeoning tone to the guitars, and a satisfyingly pinged-out snare that nevertheless doesn't really overdo it on that front. This really charges right out of the gate with a bouncy slam and chunky riff section punctuated by excellent gutturals with a lot more clarity and composure to them compared to prior albums by these guys. I immediately started drawing comparisons to <b>Cerebral Effusion</b> crossed with <b>Hymenotomy</b> in how dense and jam-packed, yet loose and flowing these riffs and sections feel. I also pick up some strong <b>Injury Deepen</b> vibes in the way almost every riff is constructed over charging blasts, which also means this reminds me a lot of <b>Gorgasm</b> by extension at times, with some pretty overt<b> Disgorge</b> leanings peppered throughout. Track 2, "Sickening Canvas of the Dead," has a superb slower section with some flourishes of technicality in it and a dragging slam-esque riff that really brings some primality to the proceedings, and the band utilizes these types of sections here and there to counterpoint their usually fast-and-blasting style. They never really get to the level of <b>Putridity</b> in terms of pure blast-laden ferocity, but I really enjoy the contrasting elements that they layer in here, as those parts give this some true replayability. There are a couple standouts here that break from the mold, those two being "Altar of Decomposed," with its extremely dark approach, carrying a dreadful air of mystery throughout its snaking melodic passages, and "The Saint Killer" which just packs an absolute ton of catchy and satisfying riffs in its 3 minute runtime while also featuring probably the best single slam section on the entire album at 1:50 or so.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJeJLzKov1CUi9FmioYQAv49B1a3tvgQDcVKJ-S-l0mIcUS5hZ03wrph0n_QBCeVXbNNJ5UU6CCOZH7KAo72qYTvcfmKufmWFFcmFvyyDoI9BOORoOMrf3Fmbd8Hcn0IuhAcFtz9YMpl9/s1438/67414153_10156958854298884_5839877353177612288_o.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1438" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJeJLzKov1CUi9FmioYQAv49B1a3tvgQDcVKJ-S-l0mIcUS5hZ03wrph0n_QBCeVXbNNJ5UU6CCOZH7KAo72qYTvcfmKufmWFFcmFvyyDoI9BOORoOMrf3Fmbd8Hcn0IuhAcFtz9YMpl9/w247-h124/67414153_10156958854298884_5839877353177612288_o.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Anyway, with all these things having been said, the entire record is very much a "slab." In true Indonesian brutal death metal fashion, it does have a fairly-homogeneous sound throughout, and when you put it on, it's definitely one of those albums that you should be devoting some time to paying attention to. It doesn't have as many ridiculous slams or absurd catchy parts as some other recent NSE releases from the past year, but what you get here is exactly what you think you're going to get based on listening to the first few minutes of it. Some small highlights (the intense bass shredding toward the end of "Inhuman Catharsis" or the aforementioned odd, dark melodies in the title track's slower sections, for example) do break things up in their own way, but I think the consistency of this album is probably also one of its weaknesses in a sense. At a hair over 30 minutes long, it's about 5-7 minutes longer than the "ideal" slam album length, but they use the time well and I don't think it could really shave much off to become a leaner and/or meaner beast, so I guess it's not really an issue as much as a thing that feels kind of noticeable as I listen to it. And, of course, it's been eight years, so it makes sense that they have a lot up their sleeves for this release. No real complaints from me on this one, and it is certainly worth spinning many times. Hopefully it doesn't take them another eight years between albums, but I'm sure the next one will be an astronomical increase in quality even from this enjoyable brutality. More NSE reviews soon... stay fucking sick!<p></p><p><u>Relevant Links:</u><br /><a href="https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/asphyxiate-altar-of-decomposed">Asphyxiate - Altar of Decomposed (official direct Bandcamp link)</a><br /><a href="https://www.deathdirect.com/">New Standard Elite / Death Direct (official website)</a></p>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-36568623035061181762021-03-14T19:27:00.006-04:002021-03-14T19:30:56.388-04:00Infectology - Promo 2021 (New Standard Elite)<p>You know it's gonna be a good year for slam when there's a demo that catches your ear that is six minutes long, from a band you've never heard, and which you play <i>on repeat for days straight like a psycho</i>. Enter <b>Infectology</b>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYKxSgXLFbWBs1LdIDLe-oZMVznrjuLY6DRZV1VGa2e89RkAGgfKmhXA101Mfr1qqZtDYJQyu5Qz1P5vNNIlnR7wXLoqS0xkdv8I332b-Spy2MWCoo6SvKmvtFAFcD6bZS0TGd6wQGHAp/s1000/Infectology%252BFinal%252B-%252B4.75x4.75__rectangle__vertical.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYKxSgXLFbWBs1LdIDLe-oZMVznrjuLY6DRZV1VGa2e89RkAGgfKmhXA101Mfr1qqZtDYJQyu5Qz1P5vNNIlnR7wXLoqS0xkdv8I332b-Spy2MWCoo6SvKmvtFAFcD6bZS0TGd6wQGHAp/w195-h195/Infectology%252BFinal%252B-%252B4.75x4.75__rectangle__vertical.png" width="195" /></a></div><br />I've already talked at length in my past few entries since restarting this blog about how 2021 seems like a real renaissance, so I'll dispense with that right out of the gate, but seriously... what is happening right now? This demo follows an album from 2016 (coincidentally released on Gore House Productions who have featured heavily in this blog since its recent rebirth) that was... not great. I don't even think I listened to the first <b>Infectology</b> album until I discovered this new demo and went back to check it out. It's decent and everything, at least from a songwriting perspective, but the production could not be further from this new demo. In a sense, their 2016 album reminds me a little of some of that oddly-melodic/epic Colombian slam/BDM (such as <b>Blaze Inside</b> or <b>Suppuration</b>), and the sound quality in general is somewhat quaint but not impressive.<p></p><p>Well, forget everything you thought you knew about <b>Infectology</b> before this post (unless you've already listened to this blisteringly-brutal demo, in which case, you definitely already know what I'm about to elucidate upon), because <i>holy fuck</i>. This new demo is unnecessarily intense and tight, jaw-droppingly heavy, massive, and well-written. It starts with four ping-y snare hits that lead to a massive, charging, chunky riff section that features some of the most amazing dual-vocal tradeoffs I've heard lately. The pinch-harmonic laden verse riff that leads to the first rolling slam is out-of-this-world good, bringing to mind comparisons to <b>Cerebral Effusion</b>, and the next few sections are pure ping slam in the <b>Ecchymosis</b> style with lots of fun flair and aplomb throughout. This is a <i>massive</i> step up in quality from the 2016 album. It doesn't even sound remotely like the same band.</p><p>The second track seems like it's going to bring out some <b>Hymenotomy</b>-type groove/intensity, but the quick fake-out in the beginning leads to straightforward blasting with heavily reverbed vocals and a continuation of the harmonic-punctuated chunky slam style from the first song. The main thrust of the track has a rolling groove mixed with some chaotic snare rolls and a superb slam that makes me think of the darker and creepier side of slam (somewhat pioneered by <b>Condemned</b>), just overall dripping with atmosphere and intensity. The bass tone on this thing is also out of control, and the playing itself is superb. In a genre where rhythm is extremely important, sometimes it feels like the bass guitar is forgotten. There are some obvious bands that implement this instrument in a meaningful, compositionally-deft way, but a lot of the time it's pretty much just going to be an element that follows the guitar. Right from the outset of the first track, the blasting sections that are punctuated by quick hammer-ons on guitar are also outfitted with loud, clear, and <i>sharp</i> bass playing that is brought alive and rendered interesting and salient by a superb mix. I don't think I'm alone when I say that I cannot fucking <i>wait</i> for the album signaled by these two tracks. Dan at NSE is once again doing a fantastic job scouting talent, no doubt about it. This is the best demo I've heard in ages and I consider it a wonderfully brutal teaser of things to come for this outfit. Listen to it now below.</p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/yw1eD-4JsmM" width="480"></iframe></p><p>As always, NSE merchandise is available <a href="https://www.deathdirect.com/">here</a>.</p>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-68676218125195767692021-03-07T10:57:00.011-05:002021-06-01T02:32:42.780-04:00Abominable Putridity - Parasitic Metamorphosis Manifestation (2021; Inherited Suffering Records)<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator">Welcome back, my fellow slammers. Lately, I've been feeling increasingly-certain that this year will turn out to be one of the most memorable in recent memory for our beloved genre of brutal musical sickness. Out of seemingly-nowhere (though I personally think it's more likely that they popped out of an interdimensional space after hibernating in cosmic stasis for a while), Russian heavy machine <b>Abominable Putridity</b> bestowed upon the world its third full-length album (first in about nine years!) after tons of lineup changes and an air of uncertainty about the future of the project. I realize that there has been a healthy amount of cynicism regarding AP, since news had up until recently been pretty sparse, and of course the mysterious vacating of every member but the drummer and the subsequent recruitment of journeyman vocalist Ángel Ochoa in the early stages of last year were kind of shocking to some fans, but I think I speak for many of us when I say that this album is, perhaps slightly-surprisingly, <i>fucking awesome</i>.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyp7usNift4fexVej0Bovc34ULoMCze2n4DicTdBWuDuhzpfRDNDAm2hSEHiBMQRrWQsKgiVZg1H226zcSw68E2QiaYy82hw210WnaDDbQUEshmVQTXa5SgmDfFjH4ggindfnZkFZnFIM/s1200/a0851292490_10.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyp7usNift4fexVej0Bovc34ULoMCze2n4DicTdBWuDuhzpfRDNDAm2hSEHiBMQRrWQsKgiVZg1H226zcSw68E2QiaYy82hw210WnaDDbQUEshmVQTXa5SgmDfFjH4ggindfnZkFZnFIM/w200-h200/a0851292490_10.jpg" width="200" /></a>When I got the e-mail from Inherited Suffering Records that this randomly popped up on Bandcamp last week, my jaw hit the floor as I realized it wasn't just another random single but an entire freaking album. There were rumors this was going to drop in 2020, but it seems like it may have required a bit more time in the incubator, or perhaps Alex knew that 2021 would be a better time to drop this as it seems we may be in the middle of a bit of a slam renaissance right now, but whatever the reason, I immediately hit play and proceeded to expect at least some element of disappointment or "well, that was fine, but not sure why we waited so long for it." Again, I'm reasonably confident I speak for at least some of you reading this right now when I say tension was high and expectations were set at a comfortably-moderate level. My fears felt at least slightly quelled as the short intro gave way to a near-perfect chunky slam with some triplet modulations and interesting rhythms peppered throughout. At this point, I was essentially somewhere between "massively-fucking-excited" and "still-somewhat-leery," both due to my familiarity with the earlier version of the next track and my general (probably-misguided) lack of faith.</p>I really enjoyed "Supreme Void" with Matti on vocals, but I always felt like he phoned in his way around the lyrics, which made it tough to read along to the lyric video they released. I know this is a silly criticism because who really cares about lyrics in stuff like this, but I think it kind of points to a bigger issue within this scene... guest vocalists that just don't feel like they "belong" on the source material. I was a bit worried about the inclusion of Ángel here, too, honestly, and at first I recall thinking his performance on this was a bit lackluster upon initial listens (and it seems like there are different lyric for this track entirely because it's impossible to follow along with the original 2018 words, but I suppose that's not really here nor is it there), but after a while it felt very natural. Think about the vocals on <i>In The End Of Human Existence</i>. They're pretty characterless and bland, right? It feels like Ángel's gutturals here were purposely kept a little plain, and his penchant for wet, slurring, sometimes-goofy vociferations has been seemingly pretty held-back here, but I think it actually works well. Just my opinion, of course. Anyway, the track has heavier and thicker production than the 2018 version, but it's overall pretty similar outside of the vocalist switch.<p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMdyIQ2KupMMjez_O4pAo20K0bFcJY7Qh2pUq0-oDf-t-DPaNwHiPrrsZ3HNmizbVs1jKboTjJE8-xUzAyl7q3Bj2_7Bx96hfsibB6etQh9cu9a__odITZYC9J0R-n2UIqvUkw2wHHzuk/s400/2b1aabcce978b12a77d5e528f4b1a00d.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="400" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMdyIQ2KupMMjez_O4pAo20K0bFcJY7Qh2pUq0-oDf-t-DPaNwHiPrrsZ3HNmizbVs1jKboTjJE8-xUzAyl7q3Bj2_7Bx96hfsibB6etQh9cu9a__odITZYC9J0R-n2UIqvUkw2wHHzuk/w143-h103/2b1aabcce978b12a77d5e528f4b1a00d.jpg" width="143" /></a>The opening lurch of "Obscure Entity of Darkness" further sells the excellence of this release and is really the first taste of what you're truly in for during the remainer of the run-time. A superb mix of complex tremolo/blast sections with surprising melodies and hard-hitting slams that plod in the most satisfying way possible. The opening section of "Sphacelated Nerves" from this band's debut has long been one of my favorite slams due to its fun groove and 4/4 splash usage, and it's cool to hear that Alex's callsign of flavorful drumming has remained over the long period since the debut AP work, because the well-done fills and satisfying ride usage have really wormed their way into the mix here in a really efficient way. The crisp mix doesn't hurt either, and I have been pretty consistently impressed by how many times I've picked up small details like bass licks or subtle slam modulations I've missed each time I return to this one. And it's only been a week, so I guarantee I'll be finding more to love about this as the year proceeds.</p><p>As someone who was not really big into <i>The Anomalies Of Artificial Origin</i>, I was beyond happy to hear just how much this new album sounds like an energetic, adrenaline-driven mid-point between the caveman slam of <i>In The End</i>... and the spastic technicality of <i>Anomalies...</i> Vigorous, pummeling slams drive most of these tracks to extremely-visceral and satisfying places while slight deviations into chaos help it stay diverse and re-playable without seeming too unhinged. Russian slam has pretty typically been constantly teetering on the edge of "alright guys, this is a bit too much" and "yes, just do exactly that for twenty-five minutes and record it" to me, so that makes the balance this strikes all the more impressive to my trained ears.</p><p>Though it will probably take me another few weeks to distinguish these songs from one another without looking at the tracklist, each track does truly feel like a microcosm of excellent ideas pushed to extremely-logical conclusions with very little in the way of noticeable drops in quality. Unexpected twists like the deviant slam about 50 seconds into "Inorganic Infusion Protocol," the weird filter sweep part halfway into "Paroxysm," and the dark, foreboding melody that makes up a lot of the latter half of "Superior Extradimensional Decimation" lend some good delineation to these songs and make the experience feel very purposeful and well-composed, which is a prominent aspect of "one-man slam" acts that is worthy of consideration. Slam solo projects have been a common occurrence for pretty much the entirety of the time I've been into the genre, and in my opinion this is the type of music that benefits from having a single mind do a lot of the creative work because it can be such a straightforward style at its core. It's amusing that this is almost paradoxically not an example of that, considering how off-the-wall some of the stuff happening here is, but the fact that it is pretty invariably-cohesive, single-minded, and relentless speaks to Alex's talents and his growth as a writer over the long years of silence.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGcFzFooXr3XGvEJBcQRhcAYNPLVXn27_2wTCXoHtlo6zmYys51a2xqhmI9r2qFjdelGsz9s4AafL2xoCnk3tfS8mWQxs9fLuaI8HqG1x4qWJB5N-k4ylziRW61KdZVr7J66KsTzlxPPS/s670/3728_artist.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="400" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGcFzFooXr3XGvEJBcQRhcAYNPLVXn27_2wTCXoHtlo6zmYys51a2xqhmI9r2qFjdelGsz9s4AafL2xoCnk3tfS8mWQxs9fLuaI8HqG1x4qWJB5N-k4ylziRW61KdZVr7J66KsTzlxPPS/w113-h190/3728_artist.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>Overall, AP's new album is a massive slab of great slam with diverse and flourishing technicality placed at opportune moments along its lean 25 minute run-time. I think this one is going to be pretty tough to top, though several great releases have already found their way into constant rotation on my playlists so far this year; always a great sign. In terms of comparisons to other bands, this seems to owe a lot to <b>Condemned</b> (dark and dreary atmosphere that nevertheless feels alive and dangerous), <b>Defeated Sanity</b> (some songwriting choices feel Lille-esque), and <b>Wormed</b> (general concept as well as the marriage of technicality with chunky slams) by turns, but it really does feel like its own thing. I hope this album gets the praise it deserves, and I'm happy to highly-recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves this type of music. Hell, this has a big enough level of crossover appeal with tech death without really truly immersing into that pool that it could bring over some people who have misunderstood or otherwise not really found themselves enjoying slam over the years. This is a resounding success. Class dismissed. End of discussion.<p></p><p><u>Relevant Links:</u><br /><a href="https://inheritedsufferingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/abominable-putridity-parasitic-metamorphosis-manifestation">Abominable Putridity - Parasitic Metamorphosis Manifestation (official direct Bandcamp link)</a><br /><a href="http://www.inheritedsufferingrecords.com/">Inherited Suffering Records (official website)</a></p>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-31012722055239325032021-02-20T10:47:00.005-05:002021-02-20T10:47:43.900-05:00Insect Inside - The First Shining of New Genus (2021; Gore House Productions)<p><b>Insect Inside</b> is not technically a new band, but listening to the few released singles from this album a couple weeks ago before it dropped had me looking into them in order to do research for this review. Evidently, they put out a one-song demo back in 2017 and, listening to it compared to this debut, it's clear they've come quite a long way. <i>The First Shining of New Genus</i> is a pretty excellent first official effort by this trio of Russian slamophiles.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k_qHm2v6iGvQcWrERVstuRcvFQWqkPZjMCfmhbbh2okmbX52SL0v4mNypHd-xZuyd_0GKAfIfynSbYuaSWjBsGdLLMH9ew-X088opoZNzqe_pJy2GTTUBwAQnEgitWtpVx7yRSgWLle3/s700/a0551043614_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k_qHm2v6iGvQcWrERVstuRcvFQWqkPZjMCfmhbbh2okmbX52SL0v4mNypHd-xZuyd_0GKAfIfynSbYuaSWjBsGdLLMH9ew-X088opoZNzqe_pJy2GTTUBwAQnEgitWtpVx7yRSgWLle3/w184-h184/a0551043614_16.jpg" width="184" /></a>The album begins with a sample and atmosphere that will sound familiar to anyone who has heard the aforementioned first demo of this band, as it is the same "tortured dude screaming" sample from the end of that track. It's evocative enough, but it's obviously not until "Sickening Ground" when the true feast begins; this album wastes no time announcing its intentions with an overture of darkly-melodic chords that quickly deviate to a very satisfying groovy slam section that feels predatory and engaging. The first thing that stands out to me here is the fantastic production, which details some surprisingly-excellent bass playing and which highlights each slam with a foundational clarity that I really appreciate. Some thuggish slams and punctuated ride cymbal usage begin "Posthumous Grief," a track featuring some contributed vocals by Kevin Muller (ex-<b>Pyrexia</b>, currently in <b>The Merciless Concept</b>) that feel like they elevate this to an early album highlight. This is also the longest track, and it contains a serpentine, winding structure that even features somewhat of a "slamdown" section that is tastefully put into play.</p><p>I really enjoy the combination of clever grooves, slightly-deviated slam phrasings, and tasteful time-signature switches this band plays with on this album. Seems like <b>Insect Inside</b>'s greatest strengths lie in their ability to switch from "tech slam" to a very lowbrow, <b>Soils of Fate</b>-esque primal sound at the drop of a hat. Almost every track has some form of fun breakdown or blast-slam-to-catchy-riff transition, which leads to the album having pretty-high replayability. The title track, for example, has a very straightforward, charging section of chunky riffs right in the middle that dexterously oscillate between being underscored by blastbeats and being driven by quick fills and normative grooves. This is one of those albums that brings in a lot of different ideas in each track and never really focuses too heavily on any one idea for too long. Sometimes, albums that focus on tons of individual ideas don't really come across as cohesive, but <i>The First Shining of New Genus</i> succeeds where many have failed because the glue that holds it together is very strong songwriting in spite of these quick changes in direction.</p><p>Vocals here are not fantastic, though, I will say, and I think one of my only misgivings here lie in how plain and unenthusiastic the vocalist's performance is. Most of what he does is quite monotonous, though every now and then, he'll descend to an extremely-guttural gurgle that I think does at least something to bring a bit of variation into the picture. That said, the vocals, even during the lower sections, sound very dry and almost cut into the slams in a way that feels a bit unfortunate. A touch of reverb or some equalization to get them integrated into the mix more would probably be a good call, but I realize this is probably nit-picking.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwkzPTEyC7WCWhQaqr0CobHwIxomq8fA6pSF46Nlu3fhNNiRfqVQsXbe0-NmIN_FZuqIovvLMRUWhNJFnLPoTiGQURmnQTozm8p8Nzi_-efGOBD37ZIlfLwAzoP_ClAmYhdFVVMLHjKdG/s1440/3540457209_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1440" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwkzPTEyC7WCWhQaqr0CobHwIxomq8fA6pSF46Nlu3fhNNiRfqVQsXbe0-NmIN_FZuqIovvLMRUWhNJFnLPoTiGQURmnQTozm8p8Nzi_-efGOBD37ZIlfLwAzoP_ClAmYhdFVVMLHjKdG/w185-h124/3540457209_photo.jpg" width="185" /></a>The second track with guest vocals is also superb, and it features Kirill of <b>Disfigurement of Flesh</b> (who share a drummer with this band... said drummer was also the founder of <b>Insect Inside</b>, just for the record) with some very solid vociferations. The breakdown at about 2:41 is one of my favorite slams in recent memory, so that definitely counts for something, and the next few tracks keep up a very high level of quality and seem to highlight the bass playing to a greater extent than the first half or so. It was a pleasure to hear Roman (of <b>Abnormity</b> fame) provide some solid vocals to the final track, as well. Man, <b>Abnormity</b> kicked ass; they're probably never coming back but bands like this are doing some killer work in their stead when it comes to Russian slam. I look forward to following the future of <b>Insect Inside</b>, and I'm glad Gore House Productions put this out... as I mentioned in the <b>Infected Humans</b> review from last week, this label seems like one to continuously watch out for, as they seem to have a good eye for upcoming talent. This is where I sign off and continue to listen to this solid-as-fuck disc on repeat... see ya next time, devotees!</p><u>Relevant Links:</u><br /><a href="https://gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-shining-of-new-genus">Insect Inside - The First Shining of New Genus (official direct Bandcamp link)</a><br /><a href="https://store.gorehouseproductions.com/">Gore House Productions (official website)</a>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-48750602567635245792021-02-13T09:36:00.007-05:002021-02-13T09:38:07.618-05:00Infected Humans - Unexpected Traumatic Experiences (2021; Gore House Productions)<p>Howdy all. As I get back into the swing of writing reviews of brutal death metal, I figured it'd be a good exercise to go in blind to an album, namely this one: <i>Unexpected Traumatic Experiences</i>, a 9 song (plus into and outro) release by a new Ecuadorian band called <b>Infected Humans</b>. This dropped on Gore House Productions just about a month ago, so it's some rather-freshly-served brutality to punish your eardrums with. The label in question here released one of the best slam albums in quite a while in 2020, <i>Glam Not Slam</i> by <b>Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy</b>, so I'm hoping this at least marches to a similar beat, though even if it does, it'll certainly do so in a less humorous and parodical way. One more thing about Gore House before we start: they are due to release the new <b>Insect Inside</b> album next Friday, and the few singles that have come out have been great. I'll link to one of those below in the <u>Relevant Links</u> section, but for now: onwards to the write-up!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt09EnqD_iDe82mQXl3uP0mrH0XgBHQZYPjlWhQKx8-ThUwEutdsqlQJm-A-qcLBRx_Qi26790d7WD3mUY9JuoBqVIWg9VlTedpfSYw9foBv9EAXe5OkjqnCOvSqOB82i-yMIutrygg07/s1200/a1814517137_10.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt09EnqD_iDe82mQXl3uP0mrH0XgBHQZYPjlWhQKx8-ThUwEutdsqlQJm-A-qcLBRx_Qi26790d7WD3mUY9JuoBqVIWg9VlTedpfSYw9foBv9EAXe5OkjqnCOvSqOB82i-yMIutrygg07/w199-h199/a1814517137_10.jpg" width="199" /></a>I <i>think</i> <b>Encystment</b> is the only other Ecuadorian slam I know of (but Logan might prove me wrong: his memory of this stuff is sadly better than mine these days; just gonna blame alcohol), and their album out last year on NSE was decent enough shit, but this seems right off the bat to be a very different beast, at least after the intro provides a bit of a creepy atmosphere. The riffing in the first song, "Killing Perservately Depressed," is surprisingly deft and catchy with some suppurating melodies and unusually-haunting ringing chords providing some interest to the writing. The snare is loud, resonant, and pingy, of course, but it also has a weirdly deep tone to it that feels distracting, especially because the riffs are darkly-atmospheric and honestly quite cool.</p><p>I wish the guitar tone were a little beefier here, because some of what's happening is truly interesting and almost "epic," but it just feels like it's missing a little something to make it great. I will also say that the vocals are definitely on the mediocre side of things a lot of the time, and the lack of cadence/how amorphous they feel is disappointing. At times, it almost sounds like the guitarist belongs in a different band entirely, which is something I've noticed in some other South American (particularly Colombian) brutal death metal bands, but there are definitely also times where this comes together pretty damn well. Take 1:54 of "Bloodthirsty Sacrifice," which has a killer straightforward riff and groovy drum pattern that sticks around in your head for a bit. It's one of those sections you wish the band would develop and build on, but of course, they charge right into another track.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX-5VQL9Ma17E2pijaSRcsOmvc4uMKgn9qNq449vi6eON00skgQMa399PbUK9u3ctWk2m2MTbGxe0kq1MQPtBQ0aFUqJH66nasHTsok1K6L3DpIidxCEaYuRjwo-tgaLvo1C35y-loJCf/s688/3540478370_photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="688" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX-5VQL9Ma17E2pijaSRcsOmvc4uMKgn9qNq449vi6eON00skgQMa399PbUK9u3ctWk2m2MTbGxe0kq1MQPtBQ0aFUqJH66nasHTsok1K6L3DpIidxCEaYuRjwo-tgaLvo1C35y-loJCf/w183-h137/3540478370_photo.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><br />Luckily, the track they stumble onto is one of the better ones, "Calcining Human Flesh," and that is due in no small part to a smart, groovy intro section and an abundance of blast-slams, which are a great invention that I wish more bands would utilize. Again, however, the vocals are just not good or well-mixed, and even the guest vocal spots feel poorly handled in one capacity or another. As an aside, I'm glad the sample usage here is on the minimal end of things, but most of the time I really would just prefer that bands dispensed with sample-usage at all (other than for atmospheric purposes and only if it actually feels necessary to establish the mood of the album). Anyway, a few more tracks go by, full of well-written and cool riffs that feel generally unsupported by the rhythm section and poor vocals, until we hit the penultimate track, "Chaotic Biological Organization," which sounds totally different from the rest of the album for some reason. It's mixed differently, has weirdly-good (and quite loud) contrapuntal bass playing, and features a more groovy mood to it that I find intriguing, if unusual and "off" somehow. It's also a bit more technical by turns, with some time-signature changes and stop-on-a-dime sections that I would've liked to have heard more of peppered throughout the album. Not really sure what's going on here, but whatever. There's even a part that reminds me of <b>The Dillinger Escape Plan</b> or some other mathcore at about 2:35, so that's weird.<p></p><p>Overall, this is a fine album, but not one that is mind-blowing or spectacular. It has its strengths and its weaknesses, its moments and its misgivings. It's one of those records that I'm not sure I would particularly recommend, but it also doesn't feel like one I would tell people to avoid. Give it a shot, though, and maybe you'll dig it. Gore House Productions seems like a good label to support, and it makes me happy to see smaller slam labels start developing solid rosters. Also, definitely keep an eye on this blog for a review of the aforementioned <b>Insect Inside</b> once it drops next week. Until next time, stay sick and brutal!</p><p><u>Relevant Links:</u><br /><a href="https://gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/unexpected-traumatic-experiences">Infected Humans - Unexpected Traumatic Experiences (official direct Bandcamp link)</a><br /><a href="https://store.gorehouseproductions.com/">Gore House Productions (official website)</a></p>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-1744667597296121922021-01-31T12:24:00.006-05:002021-02-13T09:34:56.043-05:00We Have Returned... + review of Anal Stabwound - The Visceral Sovereign (2021; Inherited Suffering Records)<p> <i>taps mic</i></p><p>Hey, is this thing on? Does Blogger still exist..? Now, wait just a second... I remember, back in <i>my</i> day, this used to be called Blogspot, <i>Blogger</i>. 🙄 Christ. Anyway, where do I even start? It's no secret that Slam-Minded has been on a really long hiatus. Life has been crazy, of course, given the global pandemic and just the general state of the world (<i>gestures broadly at everything</i>), but it seems like the tides have turned in the world of brutal death metal, and we've been getting a lot of really high-quality releases recently. Maybe all of these perverted psychopaths that comprise the slam bands of the world have just felt cooped-up and unable to properly express their sadistic rage throughout quarantine or something, but all I know is that releases from bands such as <b>Ecchymosis</b>, <b>Decortication</b>, <b>Putrescent Seepage</b>, and more have really blown me away over the past few months, and I haven't been as excited for the present and potential near-future of slam since the good ol' days, so that there is my reason to declare slam class back in session.</p><p>Grab your pencils, and prepare to take notes on the first topic in about five years...</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxWnjFSZyQzeUqK_HzgbLHR1TtP0X6Uxyjjm2Q-ntkz3WWl6BXVHKFP_f6p2g-so5gbcLNxQBN4sc98p0y-eIpZMiOiqGd8bQig-giKn6vzv-KmmaGiKM5AiTEiSaQCsM_m9fh2HVu6L/s700/a1894864066_16.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxWnjFSZyQzeUqK_HzgbLHR1TtP0X6Uxyjjm2Q-ntkz3WWl6BXVHKFP_f6p2g-so5gbcLNxQBN4sc98p0y-eIpZMiOiqGd8bQig-giKn6vzv-KmmaGiKM5AiTEiSaQCsM_m9fh2HVu6L/w193-h193/a1894864066_16.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>Anal. Stabwound.</h4><div>Yeah, really dumb name, and trust me, I get that. However, the name is absolutely the <i>only</i> not-mindblowing thing about this, a recently-formed project by a <b>15-year-old slam prodigy</b> by the name of Nikhil Talwalkar. I have no idea how he does it; for all I know, he's a laboratory experiment that has taken the form of a small, long-haired, seemingly-emotionless teenager from Connecticut who performs solo covers of relatively-obscure slam tracks in a gorgeous loft studio at his house. I'm sure his parents are fans of the music, because I just can't imagine him getting all of the gear he has without their permission or knowledge, and I especially can't picture him shouting "alright, mom, I'll be down for dinner in five minutes, just let me finish my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUJGVGpVJnQ">cover of 'Intravenous Semen Rehydration'</a>!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I'm already getting off-topic, so let's shift our focus back. This kid is basically a genius, and it's fitting that we begin Slam-Minded once again with renewed vigor by diving into what could potentially become a future classic in our favored genre of sociopathic, ugly music.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Visceral Sovereign</i> is a lengthy and extremely-ambitious debut album that just dropped recently on Inherited Suffering Records (maybe you've heard of 'em before; y'know, the label that put out <b>Ezophagothomia</b>'s debut... that one) and it is, put simply, one of the finest slabs of brutality that I have heard in a long time, written and performed by a <i>single teenager</i>, with a calculated finesse and a rather-intense focus and weightiness to it, while still deviating from some known formulas in intriguing ways, lending the album some devious memorability and surprising catchiness, perhaps sometimes in spite of its long running-time.</div><div><br /></div><div>The album begins with a ringing, overture-like chord that immediately reminded me of something <b>Condemned</b> might have done in the days of <i>Realms of the Ungodly</i>, though it quickly becomes a blast-fest of epic proportions with chunky riffs and intense gutturals mingling with a surprisingly-sinister atmosphere that brings to mind <b>Disentomb</b> and the aforementioned <b>Ezophagothomia</b> with a blasting technique that is almost <b>Putridity</b>-like. Now, those are some great bands to be compared to right off the bat, and this wastes no time slamming everything in its wake. 1:40 into the very first track, "Spewed Forth From Ash," contains a disgusting slow slam that sets the tone for the next 53 minutes, which you're undoubtedly going to spend slavishly-headbanging to this absolutely killer release.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scooped intro riff that starts the second track gave me "slamcore" vibes at first, which was a bit unnerving, but my fears were quickly allayed by a dexterous string-skipping section punctuated by lightspeed blasts and appropriately-placed pinch harmonics, somewhat like a combination of older <b>Pathology</b> and <b>Putridity</b>. The tasty, flavorful ride punctuations used in the drumming on this track (titled "Embryonic Encephalopathy;" brutal) are quite a bit more high-brow than you'd ever expect from a kid this age. In fact, pretty much all of this is superbly and tastefully-executed with a wildly-diverse scope of influences that really runs the gamut from atmospheric, darker undertones to the kind of jaw-droppingly technical and off-the-wall concepts Lille of <b>Defeated Sanity</b> fame utilizes quite a bit, especially in terms of drumming style/fills.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Kingdom of Filth" is probably the least-good song here, as it feels a bit generic by comparison with some of the other stuff on order here, but we haven't even gotten to the part of the album that stacks three songs with run-times of 7+ minutes each almost right on top of one another. Seriously, it's pretty nuts, but we'll get to it soon. The slams in this track are kinda meat-and-potatoes, and the blasting deviations feel rather rote when looked at in a vacuum, but I can see this track operating as kind of a "microcosm" of the album in a sense, sort of showing off a taste of what this kid can do within the span of five or so minutes. There is a nice, slow, churning slam a little more than halfway through that opens back up into a weirdly epic moment featuring triumphant melodies, so maybe I'm being a little hard on it, after all. I'm rusty at this, and you're just going to have to deal with that. Sorry, not sorry.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next couple tracks are excellent, functioning as an early "mid-point" of the album that shows a swing into a higher gear that has it developing into a more direct and cohesive whole with some disturbing and grotesque deviations along the way. The lurching slam at about 3:14 into "Endoparasitic Abomination" is a highlight of that track, showing off some sick rhythmic interplay that feels unique but still concretely "slam" in execution.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYQckngFtvGSZdTs7zE9oPlxJjtrBPqHxtrw3Irgth_mrMQZcJxVMB8wYBXPKw1MO_ZlRx76ZQ9csk3Dm8O7YaFZMtjbHKMDOOVAgIUIkx1z_bBlG8lUtV25w6ZoCf9ejWN-h8y1IEQhO/s828/3540481288_photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYQckngFtvGSZdTs7zE9oPlxJjtrBPqHxtrw3Irgth_mrMQZcJxVMB8wYBXPKw1MO_ZlRx76ZQ9csk3Dm8O7YaFZMtjbHKMDOOVAgIUIkx1z_bBlG8lUtV25w6ZoCf9ejWN-h8y1IEQhO/w188-h188/3540481288_photo.jpg" width="188" /></a>Track 5, "Fetal Feast," is of note as it is the first song on the album with a guest vocal feature. Now, this feature is probably the least exciting of the four that are on here, as I have no idea who the kid doing the vocals is (apparently his name is Jeron and he's the sole member of a project called <b>Backyard Cannibalism</b> that is very likely not as good as this) or what parts are actually him and what parts are Nikhil, but it is a feature nonetheless. Going forward in the album, as we reach the part where things get truly bonkers, there are three more features: the mighty Ángel Ochoa (ex-<b>Condemned</b>, <b>Cephalotripsy</b>) on track 7, the prolific Larry Wang (<b>Coprocephalic</b>, <b>Gorepot</b>, etc.) on track 9, and that other guy Jonathan Huber (ex-<b>Pathology</b>, ex-<b>I Declare War</b>) on track 10. The title track is where things start getting amazing, so we're not even close to done yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>At a length of 7:26, and with an opening like <i>that</i> (fucking sinister and foreboding as hell!), "The Visceral Sovereign" barrels forth with a set of subtly-epic riffs and a slower, more carefully-developing pace that remains subdued despite the speed of the blasts placed throughout. A darkly-melodic solo pops out just after the 2-minute mark, followed by some off-time, syncopated chunky riffs and dexterous blasts/fills. Also of note here is a section at 2:56 that seems like an homage to <b>Defeated Sanity</b>'s "The Purging" (around 3:44 in that track), and you have no idea how much I literally <i>just</i> agonized over trying to remember exactly what "weird jazzy DS moment" that reminded me of. Anyway, this track just <i>keeps fucking going</i> and somehow never gets boring or stagnant, and even has some curveball change-ups in the form of dissonant chords that lend a harrowing atmosphere to the proceedings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ángel's feature in "Demiurge of Abhorrence" is disgusting, as expected, and the track itself is utterly fucking nuts right from the very beginning... case-in-point: what the absolute shit is happening at 21 seconds in? That riff/section would be absolutely-bonkers and insane for <i>any band</i>, never mind the fact that this is composed entirely by a literal child who can't even legally drive a car yet. It's so surreal to hear this and understand that, and I feel like I'm constantly flabbergasted by the quality of the composition and performance here. The very first few moments of "Disjunct Savagery" sound like a very <b>Defeated Sanity</b> inspired segment as well, and there are some slams here and there that really bring to mind stuff like <b>Abnormity</b> or <b>Abominable Putridity</b> in how fun yet caveman-like they are in their brutal simplicity.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Up next is the longest track, a monstrous 8-and-a-half-minute beast, awesomely-titled "Temporal Dissection" (cool/semi-nonsensical two-word song names are a weakness of mine, I admit). This track has some supreme <b>Guttural Secrete</b> vibes, specifically in its bringing together of a certain savage primality and a precision-laced assault of understated melodic elements in the service of an unnerving atmosphere. And, let's be honest, it's hard not to think of GS when considering slam/BDM tracks with disturbing qualities and longer run-times (recall "Clotting the Vacant Stare" off <i>Nourishing the Spoil</i>, if you would). Just about exactly halfway through this track a moment of calm arises, centered around an otherwise-empty, chorus-laden bass section that eventually coalesces into a furious hyper-blast surrounded by insistent slams. As it slows down again, Larry Wang's reverberating squeals and gutturals make themselves known among the deconstruction and subsequent rebuilding of intense heaviness as the track reaches finality by bringing back a surprisingly-melodic and epic riff from about 5 minutes prior. Now <i>that's</i> songwriting! Did I mention this dude is <i>a fucking prodigy</i>?!</div><div><br /></div><div>The final track lays on the <b>Disentomb</b>-esque apocalyptic sensibilities pretty thick immediately, featuring some unusual and satisfying dissonance just like that band is known for, though the slams that come next are super-thick and thuggish which isn't something the referenced band is well-known for. This is a really good choice for an album closer, as it really focuses on density in composition... I mean, there's even another pretty good (albeit brief) solo that comes out of absolutely nowhere. The tempo-shifting/tempo-modulated slams at around the 3 minute mark are a highlight here for sure, and the genius of utilizing an element like that just a couple minutes after a more-straightforward/typical 8-noter is absolutely 100% not lost on me. 4:22 gives me extreme <b>Organectomy</b> vibes in how lurching and atypical (yet at the same time extremely-catchy) the particular slam construction is, and the last minute features some disgusting descending slams with triplet double-kick flair just because, y'know, Nikhil's just flexing on everyone, no big deal, whatever. This is just crazy good and, y'know what? It is one of the extreme few examples of an album of this type going absolutely hard-as-fuck for over 50 minutes without losing steam or ever getting uninteresting for longer than thirty-seconds at a time. He knows how to write this type of music, and it doesn't ever sound forced <i>or</i> lazy. It's super natural sounding and that is important to me. As a long-time supporter of this scene, and as someone with a very keen ear for what is and isn't phoned-in, tacky, and/or unnecessary in this specific type of music, I can with certainty say that this kid is going places. He's more talented than most other people playing brutal death metal of any type, and I can't wait to see what he does next. For one Nikhil Talwalkar, the only thing to do is to ascend into the highest echelons of slamminess, and I hope I have convinced you, faithful Slam-Minded reader, to follow his journey as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIfQOZvGP3tm92FOKb_SGQPTfQzBKELtpCL8CvQkdNjXYt-09pURYRKXay1ecStlfgb1W3ckz9JJD_BibbuApwyOsWYa0b4d8bLkBBq2rTaStSJmHqJ8L4r6YdJyddommV_8UZL8pAMMV/s1477/862706_artist.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1477" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIfQOZvGP3tm92FOKb_SGQPTfQzBKELtpCL8CvQkdNjXYt-09pURYRKXay1ecStlfgb1W3ckz9JJD_BibbuApwyOsWYa0b4d8bLkBBq2rTaStSJmHqJ8L4r6YdJyddommV_8UZL8pAMMV/w211-h154/862706_artist.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />Below are links to his YouTube channel, as well as a link to Inherited Suffering's Bandcamp page so you can throw your hard-earned cash at this young man and the label that has placed its trust in him. 2021 seems like it will be a great year, as (in mine and Logan's opinion, anyway) slam seems to be undergoing a much-needed renaissance, and therefore I'm excited to say that it's both extremely weird and superbly-gratifying to be able to declare Slam-Minded existent once again! Hopefully now we can try to not have five year gaps between posts; fingers crossed, eh?</div><div><br /></div><div>Until next time...</div><div>Stay fucking brutal and sick, fellow brutal death metal devotees...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">―――――――――――――――――――――</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Relevant Links:</u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://inheritedsufferingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/anal-stabwound-the-visceral-sovereign">Anal Stabwound - The Visceral Sovereign (official direct Bandcamp link)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0gtgfXaHQTLhxNdBrkkkQ">Nikhil T (official YouTube channel)</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.inheritedsufferingrecords.com/">Inherited Suffering Records (official website)</a></div>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-209400082527299412016-03-17T16:55:00.002-04:002016-03-17T16:58:39.954-04:00Injury Deepen - Anthropophagous Realm (2016; New Standard Elite)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D8zuHk05X6CRs_7gbonZvYu3RW460QeoSHBbhb8hf_DZqhoGiNKaIdmeLn_lHVDEJCD8NAch1r4np1ItpevDpyjYYHDchTVux-h6iPLb2KJ89oFzr-IdzuYUINDPw7xfjt208NmZnAkK/s1600/565858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D8zuHk05X6CRs_7gbonZvYu3RW460QeoSHBbhb8hf_DZqhoGiNKaIdmeLn_lHVDEJCD8NAch1r4np1ItpevDpyjYYHDchTVux-h6iPLb2KJ89oFzr-IdzuYUINDPw7xfjt208NmZnAkK/s200/565858.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Injury Deepen</b> are not a new band, but I'm not personally familiar with their 2012 debut or their earlier demo material. The music on <i>Anthropophagous Realm</i>, their 2016 release on New Standard Elite, is seemingly a combination of influences with a rather wide range for brutal death metal, all filtered and directed into a 26-minute assault.<br />
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The first track blasts off with aplomb, reminding me instantly of some of the more well-known BDM that came out of Europe around the turn of the century/millennium. The blasting technique and chunky, semi-blurred riffs remind me of <b>Disavowed</b> and <b>Pyaemia</b>, for instance, but I also pick up some <b>Severe Torture</b>-like twists and turns here. <b>Disgorge</b> is a definite reference point as well, as this brings to mind the raw, straightforward brutality and Matti Way vocal attack of <i>She Lay Gutted</i> decently often in my mind. Riffs generally feel bouncy and well-constructed, with obvious melodic moments eschewed in favor of rhythmic interplay with the drum patterns. This is a bit of a weird album because it sounds next-to-nothing like most stuff coming out of Indonesia. I was confused upon first listen because, hey, it's not very much like <b>Jasad</b> at all! All joking aside, that's a great thing here, and it's a breath of fresh air to hear something coming out these days that reminds me of the "old" 2000s BDM scene where there wasn't even a hard-and-fast divide between slam and BDM as there tends to be these days. Production is generally pretty solid, highlighting the obscene low-end rumble of the bass (which is even well-played at times; always nice to hear in stuff like this) and serving to highlight the hefty guitar tone. The drumming is serviceable and definitely to-style, but there are times where I feel it could sound a bit better or be more compositionally-interesting. Overall, though, those parts are few and far between and the rhythm section is pretty damn good and appropriately brutal-sounding.<br />
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There are a few really good "semi-melodic" sections with epic, marching rhythms that remind me a bit of mid-era <b>Deeds of Flesh</b>, as well. One of these features on the excellently-titled "Throne of Mangled Flesh," in which it actually acts as a kind of mini-chorus. That brings me to something else of note here: songwriting. Songwriting is one of the most make-it-or-break-it parts of brutal death metal, at least to me. You can have tons of slams and blast at 250+ BPM or whatever, but if there isn't a good groundwork, it's all kind of worthless in the end. Luckily, the boys in <b>Injury Deepen</b> understand this and often choose to focus on only several handpicked riffs per song, developing each to its logical conclusion and then switching things up in some way or another, whether that be transitioning from slow to fast tempo or throwing in a fill that leads to a continuation that flows well. One of the best moments on the album for this occurs right in the middle of the album, during "Intimate Dissection Ritual." A groovy chug riff drives right into a faster blasty/overly-complicated riff somewhat like something off the newest <b>Disentomb</b> before just absolutely bombing right into one of the best slams I've heard in recent memory. This breakdown even features some interesting basswork (though you have to pay attention as it's subtle) and pretty much continues until the end of the song. It's just absolutely massive and made even more destructive by the relative lack of big "slammy" breakdowns on the album.<br />
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Another one of my favorite things about this album would be the amazing attention paid to vocal phrasing. This guy might have a somewhat "generic" voice, but the way he fits himself into these snaking rhythms is usually pretty genius (just listen to the way the first song erupts: dude knows what he's doing). It's one of the few modern brutal death albums that I could see myself learning the lyrics to just to growl along with the album. It's really satisfying to me when this guy belts out rapid-fire verses, for some reason.<br />
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Overall, this is a really good brutal death metal album that sounds very much not like something from 2016. That isn't a bad thing at all, however, and this will definitely rekindle your lust for older-school BDM. The combination of chunky, riff-based writing and the album's short length assure that you'll get a lot of spins out of <i>Anthropophagous Realm</i>. Time to dust off your old CDs by bands from the 2000s Unique Leader and Unmatched Brutality rosters; Injury Deepen's about to show you that they can jam just like you remembered those albums do!Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-68153840440157805852015-01-08T21:37:00.002-05:002015-01-08T21:50:24.528-05:00Mortal Decay - The Blueprint for Blood Spatter (2014; Comatose Music)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“Could this head belong to a young adult female…”<br />
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Oh <b>Mortal Decay</b>, we have such a love / hate relationship. <i>Sickening Erotic Fanaticism</i> is one of my favourite records from the 90’s, mixing great death metal riffage with some incredibly heavy breakdowns similar to <b>Suffocation</b>, all the while keeping things fresh and fun. It was, and still is a great listen, I’d even go as far to call it an underrated classic. But after that, things went downhill fast with <i>Forensic</i> and <i>Cadaver Art</i>, which while competent albums, really did nothing for me in the long run. I had given up on them like so many other acts I’d once loved, and to be honest, I wasn’t too excited when I’d heard about their reunion. I came into <i>The Blueprint for Blood Spatter</i> quite skeptical to say the least, I thought it would be mediocre at best. Good god was I ever wrong.<br />
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<i>The Blueprint for Blood Splatter</i> is everything I could’ve ever wanted from <b>Mortal Decay</b>, and more, with quite a few surprises that one would not expect from the stereotypical Brutal Death Metal album. As one would expect, all the Brutal Death Metal stereotypes are here, riff salads, blast beats, slow and punishing breakdowns / slams, and indecipherable vocals, but it’s all used in a fresh and varied way that keeps you interested the entire way through. A lot of thought and care has been put into the compositions here, and it shows.<br />
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Instrumentally, everything is on point here. John Hartman (<b>Waking The Cadaver</b>) and Joe Gordon handle guitar duties, and do a bang up job of it. They’ve kept the old school feel while adding in some newer influences (some passages sound like <b>Nile</b> and <b>Decrepit Birth</b>), and even add in some black metal flavour that not many bands of their ilk would be brave enough to do. Take "Nocuous Compulsions" for example, the beginning riff sounds like something you would hear off an <b>Endstille</b> album, but with a little more crunch and groove added in for good effect. The break halfway in even sounds like something <b>Nightbringer</b> would do.<br />
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The low end is just as impressive. Anthony Ipri is impeccable on drums, with punishing blastbeats, fills, and lots of groove. There’s a lot more variety on the kit than one would expect, all the while not being overly flashy or pretentious. Monty Mukerji does a wonderful job on bass as well, and you can even hear the bass (!), which is a rarity in this style. It doesn’t seem like he’s just following what the guitarists do either, he adds his own little fills and what I can only assume are slaps, which adds a bouncy and fun nature to the songs that would otherwise not be there.<br />
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But what has to be the icing on the cake is Danny Nelson’s (of <b>Malignancy</b> fame) vocals. He is on top of his game here, utilizing a wide variety of vocal techniques, every one of them as ferocious as the last. "Mourning Euphoria" is a great example of this, with Danny jumping from some pretty impressive, and almost decipherable death growls, into some pretty wet and disgusting gutturals, and even adding in some highs that gave me goosebumps. His vocal phrasing is impressive as well, with every line he utters fitting in and complimenting the accompanying music perfectly.<br />
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I must say I am ecstatic to hear <b>Mortal Decay</b> back with such ferocity, and I gladly admit that I was wrong to ever doubt them. I implore all of you who are into acts like <b>Suffocation</b>, <b>Devourment</b>, and even older <b>Cannibal Corpse</b>, pick this up as soon as possible. And for the love of god, pick up their back catalogue and give it a thorough listen, you won’t be disappointed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-615548479720025342015-01-08T17:01:00.001-05:002015-01-08T17:05:08.934-05:00Down From The Wound - Violence And The Macabre (2014; Comatose Music)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Down From The Wound</b> are finally back, bringing their early-<b>Suffocation</b> and <b>Devourment</b> influenced slam death to life once again. Returning to the style of their debut, <i>Agony Through Rituals Of Self-Purification </i>(1/8/14 note: I still have the shirt from when the debut was released 7 years ago... jeez, it's been a while, eh?) and seeking to improve upon it in almost every aspect, this was definitely a hotly-anticipated album of mine when it was first announced. The album opens up with a rolling slam assault featuring very creative drumming and a touch of old-school charm that really harkens back to some of the best slam riffs ever written here and there. Halfway through the first song, for instance, there's a full-stop change-up that leads to a completely new section, very much like in the classic "Postmortal Coprophagia" by the masters themselves. The vocal performance seems rather flat and unengaging compared to some other bands, but it's not bad and keeps time very well, alternating slightly between a dark, one-dimensional growl to a more guttural vociferation that does, every now and then, hit the spot intensely.</div>
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The structure of these songs is typically fantastically detailed, with lots of amusing flourishes and creative deviations from the tropes of slam, all the while still staying purely in bounds of the whole "third world slam" phenomenon that DFTW has always been squarely at the center of (at least to me and some others I know, anyhow... you know who you are!). The way riffs pile up and crash down with spastic aplomb while the tight yet similarly intense drumming spastically hurries to keep up is just intense and satisfying, and the production this time is particularly detailed towards bringing out the best of each member. "Hypocritical Repentance" has this insanely well built-up slam section that, after a measure, just kind of ceases... until you realize it's building up for an even bigger, more amazing slam. That kind of transition is something very few bands have ever attempted, let alone mastered, and this album has these kinds of things all over the place. Some really amusing chuggy grooves pop out here and there that don't quite really become (or have the capability to become) full-fledged slams, and the band rides on them for adequate periods before deciding to switch to a blasty or rolling section focused on a few new riffs. DFTW has always been really good at writing music, that much is certain, but each track feels much more distinct on this album than on the debut, and that's pretty high praise considering that "<i>Agony...</i>" is a fantastically-well-crafted album in its own right, combining technicality and grittiness into a slam masterpiece that I feel has always been kind of overlooked compared to the more well-produced stuff coming out of Russia, the Americas or Europe as a whole. Consequently, I've always considered the Filipino slam scene as kind of a cousin to Colombian/Sudamerican slam with its eye towards chaos at all times, yet firmly entrenched in a singular, devastating approach that can never and will never be compromised.<br />
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Once again, in a manner similar to the debut, DFTW has crafted a multitude of fairly-lengthy songs that all go through twists and turns before arriving at endings that are either extremely cathartic or that feel pent-up, ready to unleash the chaos and brutality in the next riff, the next slam, the next section. "Schematic Fraud" begins with a section much like the latter example, with the fury of the previous track wrapping up seemingly out of nowhere, collapsing into a controlled devastation of quick slams and semi-melodic riffs punctuated by amusing, upbeat snare flourishes before the song reaches its climactic, intense midpoint leading to a very powerful, tension-building slam at the end. "Beyond The Depths Of Epidemic Abortion" (what a title, guys) reminds me a bit of mid-to-later period Cenotaph in its spazziness and inability to stick with a time signature for more than four seconds throughout that first major section, but DFTW quickly regain control and develop a 9-note slam motif that becomes a 10-note slam with the addition of a threatening, predatory half-step making the proceedings all too carnivorous. The variance in drumming on this release is one of the major things keeping me coming back, honestly; the slams and general flow of the album are intensely great, but Randyl's detailed and multifaceted attention to his kit is commanding of a lot of attention on this album, catapulting it into the realm of some of the best feral, technical slam I've heard... ever. I'm sure Lille from <b>Defeated Sanity</b> is an influence on Randyl, and it shows in the slight cymbal pulls and snare highlights, where he chooses to switch from a blurred snare blast to a particularly clean, resonant, bright ping that punctuates sweet-spots in slams.<br />
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The title track is a devastating assault of evil tremolo and slam combinations that wear out the listener within the first thirty seconds; just as an attention-deficit slam makes an appearance before switching back to the <b>Deeds of Flesh</b>-like picking aspects and complex iterations of the main riff return drastically, ready to break your neck as the four-piece stumbles into several blasty sections before they break it all down again with a catchy slam punctuated by ride and china crashes. Then begins probably one of the most epic slams on this album; the kind of shit that just makes you stop what you're doing and worship the breakdown. Featuring a nine-noter into hanging chords before becoming a slightly-slower and more intense version, this is the crowning achievement so far; a centerpiece slam if there ever was one! The rest of the album features lots of ups and downs, but I'm just not into doing track-by-tracks anymore, so let it be said that this will easily be one of the best slam albums of 2014, and if anyone has a problem with that, they'll have to answer to me (and I defend my opinions very strongly). Listening to this reminds me of just starting this blog, as that was around when DFTW was really coming into their own.<br />
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It's insane to me that this was so long in the making; not because it doesn't seem like they improved in that time (faaaaar from that, actually... the chops, production and personality are way ahead of "Agony..." on this one), but because it reminds me of Slam-Minded's humble beginnings. My interview with Randyl was one of the first things I remember working with Nick on collaboratively. When we landed it, I felt like an honest-to-goodness superstar, and I couldn't have been more happy at that time. Lots of things have happened to bring me to where I am now, and I can tell that the songwriters of Down From The Wound have also been affected as profoundly by the years; they have emerged from that time period as frontrunners of technical yet raw slam death, dedicated unwaveringly and tirelessly to intense, complex and forward-thinking brutality on "Violence And The Macabre"; brutality that somehow never ceases to impress throughout its immensely long running time of approximately 50 minutes. The rabid and vicious switches between sections on this album just feel necessary and weighty; these are things some clinical "slam" will never achieve... a true feeling of predatory sickness with an aim specifically to deliver pure brutality and intensity to the listener, but not without meaning. On the contrary, every song here feels like it has a place in the whole, and, although several listens will probably be necessary to catch some of the more specific nuances, it is worth each and every one. A hearty round of applause to the reigning masters of Filipino slam death!<br />
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(As a side note, this album has one of those weird, semi-pointless, feedback-laden "interlude" things almost exactly like <b>Putridity</b>'s "Wallowing In Aftermaths" from <i>Degenerating Anthropological Euphoria</i>. What the fuck are these? They're retarded and awesome. I need to come up with a name for this if it's gonna keep happening. <b>Defeated Sanity</b> even had some version of one at the end of "Verblendung" off their newest album, though that was even more bizarre. These should have a name and more bands should have them; I think this is a chance for one of the crazier tropes of slam to have a real pull... just sayin'... I mean, I did coin "funeral slam", after all, and that's gotta count for something...)Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-66230463161812597312014-06-11T18:15:00.003-04:002014-06-11T18:15:49.951-04:00Cognitive - Cognitive (2014;Pathologically Explicit Recordings)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, here we are once again with some album reviews, that make's it one article a year? We've really got to get our shit together, haha.<br /><br />
That being said, Cognitive are a little known five-piece based out of New Jersey, USA. They play a slightly hardcore-tinged style of brutal technical death metal with obvious nods to the genres creators Suffocation, and even some to fellow New Jerseyites (Jerseyers? I have no idea), Waking The Cadaver. Expect some incredibly technical playing, massive grooves, crushing blastbeats, and surprisingly enunciated vocals.<br /><br />The guitar playing, handled by Jake Iannaco and Rob Wharton is incredibly busy, while at the same time being tasteful, melodic, and oddly enough, progressive. From the guitar leads and solos on World's Beneath, to the atmospheric playing near the end of The Aftermath, their guitar playing encompasses everything one would want from this genre. The guitar tone also reminds me of newer Waking The Cadaver, although with more heft and clarity, which is a great thing.<br /><br />The low end is quite impressive as well, being held down by Mike Castro on drums, and Art Sikora on bass. The drumming, while nothing that will make your jaw drop, accentuates the riffs perfectly, and never seems to be technical just for the sake of it. The bass player holds his own as well, and although I wish the production would allow him to be heard a little bit more, which is my only real nitpick, he does an admirable job.<br /><br />The vocals could be the make it or break it thing for most people though, as Jorel Hart isn't the typical vocalist for this style. He's guttural while still enunciating quite well, but also jumps into some pseudo-hardcore style vocals. They may not be guttural enough for the average Brutal Death Metal / Slam fan, but at the same time they might be a bit too out there for the standard Death Metal fan. At the end of the day though, for me, I have come to greatly enjoy his vocal style.<br /><br />I must say, I'm truly surprised these guys aren't blowing up. The songwriting chops employed on this record are stupendous, everything fits perfectly. The musicianship on here is as about as good as you'll find in the genre. And hell, their style easily crosses over from Tech Death, to Brutal Death, to Hardcore, and should appeal to fans of all three genres. This is a must buy for me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-45639601469138084552013-10-28T16:08:00.003-04:002013-10-28T16:18:26.354-04:00SLAM SHOW REVIEW: 10/27 - Wormed, Condemned, Infernal Revulsion, Cognitive, Parasitic ExtirpationWelcome back to <b>Slam-Minded</b>, kids! I know many have been waiting for a return from us here for many months, so when I heard that this insanely brutal lineup was to make a stop through Cambridge, MA, where I would just so happen to be the night before for a beer-related event, I knew it was destiny that I'd attend, headbang and eventually write up my thoughts. So, here goes... be easy on me, I'm a tad rusty at writing about things that don't begin with 'b' and end with 'r'.<br />
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I brought along my buddy Chris, who is rather new to slam and interested in learning more about it, who brought his girlfriend along. Also in attendance was another good friend who left somewhat early during the show in order to get reasonable sleep for the start of his work-week (wimp). Anyway, although Chris is very willing to delve further into slam, his girlfriend was previously unaware of our lovely genre, but I think the show might have been a good conversion for her. The venue was the Cambridge Elks Lodge on Bishop Allen Drive, and we thought it was supposed to open at 5, but it turned out the doors were at 6, and, indeed, when we arrived at 5:05, the bands hadn't even shown up to load in yet. So in true time-wasting fashion, we hit up one of the best local bars (Lord Hobo, of course) in the area and returned to the scene, where a massive crowd of dudes in black shirts was pouring in to the shoddy basement. Oh yeah, awesome setting for a slam event! Extremely ratty and run-down looking, this Elks Lodge has clearly seen better days, but these seedy environs would soon prove themselves worthy of a true beatdown.<br />
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<b>Parasitic Extirpation</b> was first up, and I was surprised to see Mallika of <b>Abnormality</b> grab the mic and begin to do her check along with the other members. Didn't know she was doing vocals for them these days but, then again, I don't really pay as much attention as I used to, admittedly. The band only played about 20 minutes (5 or so songs), but they were surprisingly good. I remember I had some criticism about their <i>Knee Deep in Disease</i> EP from way back in the day (2008, for the S-M OGs among you all), but overall, I didn't find the release <i>bad</i>, and tonight they were in rare form with big, pit-opening slams, Mallika tearing through the crowd while vocalizing all manner of ugliness and perversion, and fantastic drumming. The biggest letdown for this band were the absolutely stupid, pointless wanky solos that pervaded every single song with pretentious bullshit shredding. I hate crap like this; one second I'm listening to a great slam, then all the power is just sucked out and wasted on a song-dividing solo that doesn't improve the music in any meaningful way. Definitely looked like he was just playing them cuz they felt "cool", not because they were actually supportive of the songs. Also, the vocal mixing was poor, and could have been tweaked to make Mallika much louder, as she was fairly quiet and, though she looked powerful doing her thing, not much of that power was sonically conveyed. Then again, when I've seen <b>Abnormality</b> before, it's been almost the same kind of deal, so I don't know. Regardless, pretty great slams when they were happening, very varied and interesting drum-work, solid playing in spite of distracting solos, and very heavy, brutal sound. They got me moving several times, so that's cool, as I feel like I'm pretty slam-jaded in some ways.<br />
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<b>Cognitive</b> is a band I've never heard of, although they are apparently tech-death and from NJ. Seems like they'd be the odd ones out on this bill, right? Not really, as it happens. They slammed quite a bit, playing some fast, blasty songs with lots of satisfying time changes. Vocally excellent with a commanding and heavy riff presence (despite not having a bassist), this band was fairly good at making brutal music, though not entirely unique or well-thought-out, as a lot of tech-death can happen to be. One thing that was amusing and a bit distracting with them, though, was that both guitarists would at times just kind of randomly seize about and make bizarre movements that seemed very forced and goofy, not matching the precision and exacting nature of the music. Their newest music seemed a lot more slammy, which was cool, but jarred a bit with some of the more spastic stuff they jammed out earlier in the set. Bonus points for interesting lead-work; almost every song had some kind of cool lead that basically involved heavily-effected single note picking, similar to <b>In-Quest</b>, particularly on their album <i>Epileptic</i>. I just realized there's an amusing link between that album's title and the members of the band spazzing about, but I digress. Not bad, but the best was yet to come.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0UjHEQ6ErGYEi3ccHvjSWJKYAKLv3WUemVPNnBkb5fvM_20M4n2KGxPMAoNjVDI8QzOKPCHZVmvlN6I4dZJRPjuTMOjYMx-_1cBTAm6KspGeEzft6QlbX6Aotvok8kIGZRoSUYzql3EE/s1600/IMG_1050%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0UjHEQ6ErGYEi3ccHvjSWJKYAKLv3WUemVPNnBkb5fvM_20M4n2KGxPMAoNjVDI8QzOKPCHZVmvlN6I4dZJRPjuTMOjYMx-_1cBTAm6KspGeEzft6QlbX6Aotvok8kIGZRoSUYzql3EE/s200/IMG_1050%5B1%5D.JPG" width="149" /></a><b>Condemned</b>... this band and I have an interesting past, one that happens to have begun with quarrel, though it led to eventual contentment. As one of those curmudgeonly people who found <i>Desecrate the Vile</i> to be an intensely tiring, one-dimensional release of boring slam-and-blast blur, I recall approaching <i>Realms of the Ungodly</i> with trepidation, both because the art and change in aesthetic direction seemed really cool and I was worried about them screwing it up, and because longer songs in the same style brought on a bit of a bitter taste. Luckily, they switched up their playing style a little bit, injecting some great atmosphere, and a lot of these aspects came together just great live. Angel's vocals were powerful and brutal, though a bit less gurgly/goofy than on albums, which was a disappointment. Forrest was blasting away intensely for the majority of the set, as they tackled most of the songs on <i>Realms...</i> (somehow leaving out "Submerged unto Phlegethon", which was just lame and unfortunate in my opinion... maybe something to do with the fact that another Phlegethon was there; Wormed's vocalist!), with a few from <i>Desecrate...</i> for good measure. Those were fine in the flesh, which I was satisfied with; I had a distinct feeling they would be, as their blurry and straightforward style works a lot better when you're not picking everything apart like with an album review. One of the best things about <b>Condemned</b> is that their slams are very unpredictable and often switch halfway through to a blasting section or similar change-up that can convincingly bewilder many troglodytic spinkickers in the pit, as was observed somewhat often during the entirety of their set. The slightly manipulative nature of their music worked very well in this basement-like atmosphere, and they had really great, heavy sound that filled the whole room. Angel was funny with his overwhelmed, end-of-tour banter between songs (my favorite moments included calling <b>Infernal Revulsion</b> "Infernal Convulsion", laughing and correcting himself, as well as when he couldn't read his own writing on the setlist attached to one of the cabinets and announced the wrong song before catching himself and commenting on it hurriedly), and you could tell he was just trying to bang songs out without much delay. It worked well with the hurried, semi-sloppy way the songs can appear to be constructed, especially apparent when Forrest's kick rolls or gravity blasts would go on just slightly too long or not long enough. Pretty killer set here, though I wish I had been closer for it.<br />
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For <b>Infernal Revulsion</b>, I got my wish and moved up closer with Chris; so close, in fact, that if I headbanged any further forward, I would've hit one of the guitarist's headstocks! It was great to be so close to some live Japanese slam, and they really killed it with varied barking/gurgling/yelling vocal approaches, super low-tuned bass (that the dude played like an upright double bass with finger-picking; killer!) and some inventive riffs wrapped around a huge menagerie of beatdown-slams and catchy groove sections. They were absolutely fantastic live; some real slam-worship was going on here and there, and the band was super into it themselves; their lead singer just about cued every impending breakdown or switch-up with some full-body movement; intense! I have always been fond of <b>Infernal Revulsion</b>'s way of writing slightly predatory slams; the way they leave notes hanging and how they get you into a big groove only to switch it up with a new rhythm or way of coupling the base notes are very effective ways to keep the crowd going and keep the pit full. I, of course, stay away from the pit because I'm a tiny person (for the record, if you were at the show, I was the short dude with the High & Mighty Beer Co. shirt on; cheers!), but I glanced behind me in between bouts of rhythmic headbanging to find many people stomping to the rhythm, so it must've been appropriately effective, anyway. Alright, now to the big thumbs-down about this set; the motherfucking kick drum. Dear god, why? I know <i>Devastate Under Hallucination</i> featured this too, but it was just wickedly overbearing in a live venue; extremely treble-y and clicky and louder than every other drum on the guy's kit... which was lame because he was a totally showboating, crazy performer and could clearly play well; he spun his sticks at just about every opportunity and engaged with the crowd during the last few songs in a very "80's hair metal" kind of way with the beckoning for applause and whatnot; amusing and a good change from the lack of personality many death metal drummers exhibit. I was glad to have been right up front for these guys; they were quite a bit of fun and their kind of singularly-focused groovy slam with heavy, charging rhythms was the perfect setup to the headliners of the night...<br />
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<b>WORMED</b>. Now, if you know me, you know I am an utter devotee of <i>Planisphaerium</i>, an album that changed how I think about metal when I first heard it, one that I know most of the lyrics and vocal phrasings of by heart and one that means quite a bit to me. When I first heard <i>Exodromos</i>, therefore, I was skeptical and a bit disappointed by the change. I know that the <i>Quasineutrality</i> EP represented a fairly significant change for them, but it still had the certain unabashed heaviness and animalistic, extraterrestrial nature of <b>Wormed</b> at their core. Thus, you can see why I may have been a bit disappointed with the new album. Actually, I'll come right out and say that I don't like it very much at all. The change in drummer has hurt them big time, Phlegz' vocals have been extremely neutered I feel, and the music got a lot more sterile and generically "technical" (disjointed is a better, more fitting word) without much reason behind it. Many of the heavy slam riffs from <i>Planisphaerium</i> were replaced by scratchier riffs with vague chugging, and the drumming lacks the intensity of the debut, instead focusing on clinical blasts with a peppering of cool sections, here and there remarkable but never consistently impressive. Anyway, enough about that, how were they live? In a word, disappointing... and it took me some reflection to admit that to myself just now. I didn't want to think it was under-par, but it just was; from the unbearably poorly-mixed vocals (great variation, cool tone obviously, but way too over-loud, and with some goofiness that was a bit out-of-place) to the utter lack of snare drum presence (when all I can hear are your cymbals in slam, there's certainly a problem) to the lack of heaviness coming out of Guillemoth's bass, this was a mixing disaster. All that and Phlegethon's vocal mic cut out several times. I appreciated the intermissions; static and noisy waves played between each song, announcing the title of the next-to-be-played track, but honestly, this time could've been used to tweak the sound so it was, y'know, <i>good</i>. Anyway, they didn't have an overall bad set; highlights included "Geodesic Dome", "Tunnel of Ions" (even though the vocal phrasing was poor), "Ylem" (including an EVEN SLOWER version of <i>that breakdown</i>) and "Tautochrone" (one of the only songs I really dig off the new album), but the taste in my mouth was a bit bitter, I must admit. I'm sure it was impressive to many people, and <b>Wormed</b> are definitely a band to follow due to their unique nature and willingness to experiment with a rather-apparently-stale genre, but I'm not a huge fan of their current direction, and this show was an awkward let-down in weird ways unlike what I expected.<br />
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So, how was the show? I haven't been to a nearly-purely-slam show in a good several years (maybe my own damn fault, but whatever), but it was damn good fun, and got me stomping and reconsidering how often I write for this blog... so that's a positive. Almost every band had negatives and slightly-disappointing aspects that drew my attention away here and there, but that's life. Slam is, in a sense, very similar to life in that way. Therefore, I implore all readers of S-M to keep slamming... we will be there for and with you, possibly with somewhat lacking frequency, but always in our brutal, putrid hearts. Cheers!Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-22803233813219902382013-02-16T04:26:00.003-05:002013-02-16T04:30:21.516-05:00Scatorgy - Scatorgy (2013;New Standard Elite)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Scatorgy. Just let that name sink in for a bit. Hell, just look at the cover art. You would probably guess this to be some garbage porngrind or goregrind album. You would also be gravely mistaken. Scatorgy play some of the most demented, vile, and vicious brutal death metal I have ever heard. It's almost as disgusting as the cover art. <br />
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This album presents you with approximately 20 minutes of pure insanity. Think Brodequin, if they were getting sodomized by Amputated Genitals, and you've got a good idea of what you're getting here. These guys don't fuck around. Insanely fast blasts are aplenty, complimented by some insane, almost deathgrind riffs. Sprinkle in a bit of technical noodling on the guitar, some massive slams, and what sounds like a bear on the microphone, and you have Scatorgy.<br />
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Instrumentally, Scatorgy is pretty much impeccable. Tom Allott, the guitarist, shows some great technical skill, transitioning from some incredibly fast riffs to some heavy as hell slams at the drop of a dime, while throwing in some little technical flourishes that you don't hear too often in brutal death metal. James Shuster does a great job with the vocals, employing a few different styles to keep it from being monotonous. Paul Lead does a good job on bass, but doesn't really stand out. Although I would say that's more of a problem with the mixing than his playing. And then we have the drummer, Tom Walker, who is quite possibly one of the fastest drummers I have ever heard. He blasts like a man possessed, but what's most impressive about his drumming is the subtle little nuances he adds in with his symbol work. That, and the goddamn Short Bus Pile Up styled snare production, which only adds to the sound they're going for.<br />
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There are some downsides to this record though. For one, the mixing job, while decent, leaves a little to be desired when it comes to the low end. It's almost impossible to hear the bass, which detracts from the overall heaviness. The biggest problem though is how everything seems to run together. There aren't many memorable moments to be had on this album. Even after listening to it ten, twenty, even thirty times, I'm hard pressed to remember any singular moment. I also would've liked a little bit of breathing room, but seeing how it's only a 20 minute album, it's not that big of an issue.<br />
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Overall, this is a pretty damn good record. It's definitely catered towards fans of Brodequin, Liturgy, Orchidectomy, and their ilk. If you're looking for an album to ruthlessly beat you into submission repeatedly, look no further.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-32950091010441575812013-02-13T21:55:00.004-05:002013-02-13T21:56:57.751-05:00Goemagot - Eradication Of Insignificant Beings (2013;Sevared Records)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, I know it's been a while. Our last post was on July 8th, 2012, and I feel awful for that. We've all been quite busy, and to be perfectly honest with you, not too impressed with the scene in 2012. Of course there we some great albums released, but overall it wasn't that great a year for our slammy brethren. Within the first month and a half of 2013, we've already seen a larger amount of high quality music released. This is the our year, and what better way to start if off than by reviewing an incredible debut album a relatively unknown band named Goemagot.<br />
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For those who don't know, Goemagot is a three piece Brutal Death Metal / Slam act that hail from Rochester, NY. They released a 3 track demo titled Parasitic Incineration to the acclaim of the underground mid 2012. It's quite a well produced demo that showcased a high quality brutal death metal band with songwriting chops far beyond their age. The subtle nuances in their riffs set them apart from their peers. I'm sure everyone was stoked to hear where they went from there, and if they could keep up that level of quality. Not only have they lived up to their demo, I dare say they've surpassed it.<br />
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What you get on Eradication of Insignificant Beings is a 11 track crash course in how to perfectly balance technicality and groove. It really sounds like a mixture of old Abominable Putridity, Colonize The Rotting, and Brain Drill channeled through competent songwriters. Hell, some tracks have moments that remind me of Ropreromp. From the opening tracks subtle change ups in the slams, to the insane grooves, blasts, and an intense little guitar solo (!), you'll be hard pressed to stop from banging your head. Everything is on point. Nothing sounds forced, or just tacked on. The most impressive aspect of this album has to be their sense of melody. Not since Saprogenic have I been so enthralled by their use of odd little guitar melodies. You'll be hearing a lot of tremolo picked melodies, like the intro to the track Let Them Become Soil, or the epic, almost Colombian styled riff near the end of Stump.<br />
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The drumming is another high point on this album. Daniel Hemmerich is a name you'll be hearing a lot more in the future. He's just beastly on the kit, throwing everything at you up to and including the kitchen sink. The only nitpick I have though would be the vocals. There's plenty of variation on this album vocally, and that's usually a good thing, but it's not all of equal quality. His gutturals are perfectly fine, and so are his more high pitched vocals, but when he tries to go for some of his ultra low gutturals, it just seems a bit monotonous. Overall though, Cody McConnell does a great job. <br />
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I could elaborate more on how much I enjoy Matt Murphy's guitar playing on this album, how I love the little bass noodling that pops up here and there, how I absolutely can't get enough of some of the chaotic gravity blasts that happen, but I think I should end it here. Eradication Of Insignificant Beings is the best debut album I have heard in quite some time. I implore you all to scope out this album when it drops. I know that 2013 has already been way too kind to us brutal death metal aficionados, what with Devourment, Guttural Secrete, Defeated Sanity, and Suffocation releasing albums, but it would be a great injustice to let those high profile releases overshadow such an impressive debut.<br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-53612537137532008342012-07-08T20:05:00.002-04:002012-07-08T20:05:30.075-04:00Lumpur - Skema Pembalasan Sempurna (2012; New Standard Elite Records)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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According to Google Analytics, the Indonesian version of google, google.co.id, refers the most traffic of any country's google portal to Slam-Minded. We get more hits from Indonesia than Germany, Canada, or the UK. This tells me that there is a passion for brutal death metal in Indonesia so I thought I'd try to find a deserving Indonesian band to review.<div>
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Thanks to some recommendations I found a very deserving candidate in <b>Lumpur</b>, who hail from Bandung on the island of Java. After 9 years of silence (including a 6 year hiatus), <b>Lumpur</b> have released a short, but powerful EP entitled <i>Skema Pembalasan Sempurna</i>. I say powerful because <b>Lumpur</b> jam a lot of metal into this EP's 14 minutes. I've heard full lengths with less brutal slamming than <i>Skema Pembalasan Sempurna</i>.<b> Lumpur </b>play an absolutely relentless style that, while not particular fast or harsh, continually flows over you and breaks you down (in a good way). The riffing doesn't stop, it just carries you along with it. <b>Lumpur</b> have definitely taken a more holistic approach to songwriting, which I think works exceptionally well for the EP format. Each individual song works together with the other songs on the album to create a complete work. This really speaks to <b>Lumpur</b>'s songwriting skill.</div>
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The riffing style here definitely borrows from deathgrind, which I like. There's a backbone of chugging that the bass and drums stick to, while the guitar ventures out using tremolo riffs and pinch harmonics. There's definitely a subtlety here that again speaks to the skill of the band. They keep up a steady beat of destruction whereas a lot of other bands try too many things at once and thereby create a muddled mess. <i>Skema Pembalasan Sempurna</i> is not simple by any means, but <b>Lumpur</b> stick to a particular style, which makes the album a more unified and memorable experience.</div>
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I have still just begun exploring the world of Indonesian brutal death metal, but if there are more albums like this, I am sure that I will like what I find.</div>Nick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-28611940445417553132012-06-21T00:08:00.003-04:002012-06-21T00:13:47.156-04:00Abnormality - Contaminating the Hive Mind (2012; Sevared Records)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Abnormality</b> have been kicking around for what seems like many years at this point, though it's really only been about 5 or 6 years since their first demo. I remember hearing them for the first time as a student interning at the university radio station. Mallika and co. would stop by infrequently, and, whether the occasion was a live show or an interview on radio, generally come off as the definition of "class acts." Hell, it was that radio station's headquarters where I bought a t-shirt directly from the band all those years ago. I think I sported it at MDF this year, too... look, now I'm getting all teary-eyed and nostalgic. Thanks guys...<br />
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Also, damn, look at that cover art.<br />
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Ahem... right... onto the music? I honestly don't think I can believe my eyes here; I actually have on my desk a copy of the <b>Abnormality</b> FULL-LENGTH ALBUM. This is a time I thought would never come. It's also over 30 minutes long and features 8 brutal as hell, spastic, sometimes-slamming, always-relentless twisters of deathgrind technicality. The CD opens with a blistering drum whirlwind with an equally off-kilter and fucked-up riff grinding away in the background. I particularly like the attention to bass the production has; I can hear a lot of slappy pops and things like that which show me the bassist is doing more than just following everything the guitarists are doing. The middle of the song sees the guitar doing a bit of flourishing lead-work, though it is quickly quelled and flows right back to the rolling, heavy and oppressive sound found earlier in the track, punctuated by staccato snare blasts and a <i>lot </i>of loud-as-hell kick drum.<br />
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One thing that is cool here that very rarely gets love in slam or brutal death metal in general would be tight vocal phrasing and great, evocative lyrics. Mallika is, of course, an awesome vocalist, but I never noticed that her lyric writing skills are almost on-par with her expressive growling and screaming. Most of the verse lines actually rhyme or come close (though they do use a lot of similar diction at times; not really a big deal and more of a truism than criticism, honestly), and if they don't, they tend towards similar phrasing so that the vocals actually hit cadence during verses. I just love this kind of shit; it isn't typical "bluuurgh" or pig-squeal stuff, there's thought going into vocal patterns and attention to how they fit into the music.<br />
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"A Chaos Reserved" also has a pretty nifty solo, and I like the lurching breakdown right after that incorporates phasing on the rhythm guitar... neat and clean effect that makes the track stick out in my mind. "Fabrication of the Enemy" sounds a little bit Colombian, as the blasting is of the gravitational variety and<br />
the riffs are bizarre and squeaky-clean. There's an American-ness to the production, but its glossy sheen doesn't really bury anything, instead opting for fairly loud compression that attempts to give head-space to every instrument. There are times when the kick drum is really much too loud, especially when it is overlapping with the snare during blasts, and I miss a lot of what the cymbals are doing, but the suffocating aura exuded by ten tons of gravity blasts every track quickly remind me that I don't particularly care. This track even has a funeral-ish slam that really comes straight out of nowhere and descends to a semi-old-school death metal with way over-the-top kick and a nice solo. Parts of "Taste of Despair" sound a bit like older <b>Despised Icon</b>, though the way vocal patterns and riffs are formulated remind of <b>Malignancy</b> and <b>Suffocation</b>, respectively. "Schismatic" has a great intro, very moody (acoustic guitar), but it drops that aspect like a cheap whore and goes full-blast until finding a comfortable groove at just about 2 minutes in.<br />
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"Shooting the Messenger" has this weird, awesome empty part a little over a minute in which kicks the proceedings up a notch by proceeding to a thrashy riff/drum combo (going double-time compared to normal thrash) before dropping into a nice, thorough slam and back to the previous thrashing. At this point I'm a little tired of the soloing, as it is a bit shreddy, unmemorable and kind of dull, but I really dig the riffs and how they repeat for almost exactly the right amount of time nearly without fail. "Contaminating the Hive Mind" is blustery, a virtual beatdown in audio form... the whole part that ends with the title drop is incredible vocal phrasing and pacing; perfect. A sort-of backwards-sounding breakdown follows that up, and they do repeat the chorus one more time before dropping into an intense slam featuring the indomitable Matti Way doing guest vocals. His performance here does, unfortunately, seem a bit phoned-in, but the music that's backing it up provides the bread-and-butter that I'm looking for in a closing track, so I don't quite mind. <br />
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Now, I should definitely get to the critical and possibly scathing segment of my review: part of me finds each of these songs a little too distended; it's almost like they're constantly outliving their given shelf-life, yet at the same time trying to convince you that they're not and that there's more (and interesting) material to come. Only sometimes do they really make good on that promise, though (though the majority of the time, this is quite the brutal, enjoyable romp, don't get me wrong). I found it amusing that it even sounds like the solos are trying to hurry the proceedings up, making everything seem the longer overall. They even show up at essentially the same time during every song in which they appear. I can't really get by that for this album, unfortunately; it is impenetrably, irrevocably brutal but a bit harrowing and haranguing on the whole. It seems weird, then, that I would long for an <b>Abnormality </b>full-length and then trash their desire to write longer (and more) songs, but it really sort of becomes a sticking point when the songs themselves are overbearing to some extent, especially the one-dimensional drum production which goes tickety-tock too much, too often.<br />
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This has some awesome chops all over the place, and almost every song is tighter than <i>[insert brutal euphemism for something tight here]</i>, Mallika is as usual a wonderful vocalist (and apparently also quite the writer), and everyone in this band clearly knows their way around brutal deathgrind with a keen eye towards lack of relenting, so there sure are a bunch of positives here. But this is a duality, a push-and-pull with the issues that I find so often in debuts, and there are glorious moments when they struggle and succeed to rise above it all. For the next material this band puts out, I hope there will be more than awesome moments, or, hell, even more than awesome <i>songs</i>. I want there to be awesome <i>purpose</i>, an awesome album that defies conventional logic and blows minds, not just eardrums. And if any band can do it, it's our local heroes in brutality, Massachusetts' own <b>Abnormality</b>.<br />
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*<span style="font-size: x-small;">preferably with a reference to virgins or something... I dunno, whatever you slam kids say these days </span>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-58937297488338494032012-06-17T12:00:00.001-04:002012-06-23T11:07:46.478-04:00Kraanium - Post Mortal Coital Fixation (2012; Comatose Music)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Slam fans, I think we might have a classic on our hands. <b>Kraanium</b>'s newest full length is that good.<br />
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It's probably premature to call this a classic just yet, but <i>Post Mortal Coital Fixation</i> is the best album I've heard this year by far. It's a huge step forward for the band and vaults them forward to the top tier of current slam bands.<br />
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In the past I've always been fond of <b>Kraanium</b>, if not as big a fan as some. They wrote catchy, compulsively listenable slam with tinges of thrash in their breakdowns. It wasn't the most interesting material, but it got the job done and the band played with a lot of energy and passion. That'll last a band a few albums, but even slam death bands need to evolve (if only slightly) to keep people coming back album after album. That's why so many bands are one and done, or worse, release progressively worse music.<br />
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<b>Kraanium</b> avoided that fate here by turning to a more serious and mature (well as mature and serious as this genre gets anyway) approach. Post Mortal Coital Fixation is not as in your face as the past two albums, but that's a good thing. <b>Kraanium</b> attack with an inexorable assault of slow breakdowns, and writhing riffage. The trash stylings remain but are less prominent, in favor of a darker tone to the breakdowns. This reminds me a lot of <b>Infernal Revulsion</b>'s <i>Devastate Under Hallucination</i>, which was a classic in its own right. <i>Post Mortal Coital Fixation</i> has a sense of darkness and foreboding, that enhances the crushing nature of the breakdowns.<br />
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It is obvious from this album that <b>Kraanium</b> really understand what makes this genre of music so good. Taken as individual parts slam is pretty simple and straightforward and that's fine. But it is incredibly gratifying when a band can take those parts and create something more - a particular feeling. That feeling where you just want to start banging your head. That feeling that only metal fans understand. No particular song or riff stands out above the others, but that's because they all work together to create an incredibly powerful album.<br />
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My only worry is that fans who loved <b>Kraanium</b>'s previous albums might not be able to get into this one as quickly, due to its higher bar of accessibility. If you are feeling this way I urge you to give it a few more chances. This one is definitely worth it. I fully expect it to be near or at the top of my best of 2012 list.Nick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-48782732126363916452012-05-24T21:28:00.001-04:002012-05-24T21:29:45.686-04:00Secreted Entity - Horrifying Hallucinations of Ungodly Activities (2012; New Standard Elite Records)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Slam is not a genre known for subtlety. In fact, the utter lack of subtlety is one of the core ideologies of the genre. Still, sometimes albums can be hard to grasp completely after a first listen. What seems ordinary at first glance is revealed to be a hidden gem after a little more delving. Because of this, I make sure to always give albums I review at least two listens. <i>Horrifying Hallucinations of Ungodly Activities</i> by new Cali slammers <b>Secreted Entity</b> is one those albums that took some time to get into, but once it clicked I found myself listening to some top-notch slam.<br />
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In one sentence <i>Horrifying Hallucinations of Ungodly Activities</i> can be summed up as Colombian slam viewed through an American lens. Take the cutting tremolo melodies and crushing grind/slams of bands like <b>Amputated Genitals</b> and <b>Blaze Inside</b>, and replace the brutish coarseness of Colombian slam, and replace it with the more refined Cali sound and you'll have an idea of what this album sounds like. I'm not sure if Secreted Entity were trying to go for a more Colombian sound, or if they merely stripped and bent the normal technicality of the countless CADM <b>Disgorge</b> clones, but they ended up with something unique and really good. I'm a big fan of how dirty and rough a lot of Colombian bands are, but <b>Secreted Entity</b> prove that kind of riffing works well with a good production.<br />
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Speaking of production, this album sounds great. Everything is thunderous and loud without the annoying "loudness" that so many "well-produced" albums end up having. The drums especially sound great. Pounding and visceral, but never overpowering. The excellent sound really helps <b>Secreted Entity</b> display their hybrid style to the fullest. In fact, I think Horrifying Hallucinations of Ungodly Activities relies on it. This album is greater than the sum of its parts because of how killer everything sounds.<br />
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I do have a few minor criticisms however. The first is how flat the pace is throughout the album. <b>Secreted Entity</b> play at what I would call a "lumbering" speed. This is fine, but I wish they would change it up more. After all, drastic tempo changes are what slam is all about. Secondly, the album/song titles read like brutal death mad-libs. This is a minor thing and I don't expect a lot, but a consistent theme can go a long way in establishing an overall aesthetic for the album.<br />
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Definitely give this album a try (or two). <b>Secreted Entity</b> have crafted one of the better and more unique albums to come out this year.<br />
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<i>Note: Thanks to the anonymous commentor who recommend this album to me.</i>Nick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-87934613061678248682012-05-09T00:23:00.001-04:002012-05-24T21:29:22.323-04:00Visceral Throne - Omnipotent Asperity (2012; Brutal Bands)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu5dkB1Ckx-7ec3RSaha38tuTX-ZRZpkHn9PSq9NMABHCPffS9W4mmzk2Y9FHaxooDvtBo6ydCs6pd3thGzz0-2fvDI9oW7jxJvKKYQe1ZTUxqsb4UFTh50iFtUE1SAs9-UXlttOVOg96/s1600/Visceral+Throne+-+Omnipotent+Asperity+%282012%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu5dkB1Ckx-7ec3RSaha38tuTX-ZRZpkHn9PSq9NMABHCPffS9W4mmzk2Y9FHaxooDvtBo6ydCs6pd3thGzz0-2fvDI9oW7jxJvKKYQe1ZTUxqsb4UFTh50iFtUE1SAs9-UXlttOVOg96/s320/Visceral+Throne+-+Omnipotent+Asperity+%282012%29.jpg" width="215" /></a>Good ol' American slam death is back, and it's actually blastier than ever with the coming of this new album by fledgling Indiana-based 4-piece <b>Visceral Throne</b>. This band writes modular, compact and tightly played songs which really run the gamut from technical death metal to intense chugging slam, even throwing in a few melodic references at times. Right from the beginning of the album, I'm assaulted by a wash-fade-in that leads to a killer semi-melodic riff with spastic and mindfucking drumming. A half-slam becomes a blast riff and dissolves back into a chugging fury, the band plays around the edges of structure with several repeating riff ideas all referencing something of a core concept in each track. The snare is pingy and bright, which I really like (if you read the last review Logan and I wrote about <b>Chordotomy</b>, you'd know that it's my belief that more slam should have loud, colorful snare that highlights slams), but there are times when it can be overbearing, especially during blasts. 11-note slams punctuate "The Amaranthine" with brutal precision, and the way they tease you with groove is addicting because they regularly discard amazing sections only to lead into even more complex and satisfying deviations. The last half minute even has a funeral slam (god, I'm glad bands are doing this a lot more; it is amazing).<br />
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There are parts of this that have this really bizarre, dark and twisted atmosphere, which reminds me a bit of the latest <b>Condemned</b> album, though this is much more all-over-the-place (though it's not like that album was simplistic at all; far from it). This has a far brighter mixing job than that album, but it's still got the same staggering, barely-held-together qualities to it that make this kind of stuff so appealing. Cleverly placed slams are really abundant here, though they tend to be a bit basic in composition. The band seems to spend more time thinking about how to destroy your idea of songwriting than actually writing big slams, but I'm not really of the mind to care about that when all of the individual parts of songs are so massive and skull-beating as they are here. Take about 2:20 of the title track for example; holy hell that's <i>insane</i>. Completely intense yet laid-back drumming (reminds me a lot of <b>Psycroptic</b> at times, actually) underpinning a killer sharp riff. Traditional noodly lead section aside (alright, time to admit it: these actually get on my nerves at this point; write more really epic solos like the one in "Epitaph"!) this song is full of amazing things happening with barely enough time to digest all of them. That means it's absolutely, 100% certifiably awesome to listen to on repeat. You'll be discovering things you didn't even come close to hearing during that first listen; things that make you repeat the last track just to headbang to them, dissect them and worship them, finding out much later that <i>that</i> part was what's been stuck replaying in your head all day (top albums for this kind of thing for me include <b>Bodysnatch</b> - <i>Insights of a Rotten Theatre</i> and <b>Cephalic Impurity</b> - <i>Unique Brute Revival</i>, for the record).<br />
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"Transcending Carnality" has this big <b>Meshuggah</b> influenced part with a solo that actually sounds a little bit like something Thordendal would pen, which is kind of a great homage. Very staccato rhythmic section with a beep-y guitar solo over the top, quite cool. The second solo in the song is actually much more epic, perhaps like something <b>Decrepit Birth</b> would write on their last album, <i>Polarity</i>. Another great thing about this album would be its length; it's short (a few minutes shy of a half-hour) and doesn't get exhausting to listen to. One of the hardest things to do in slam death (or brutal death in general, really) is to write appropriately-long albums; a lot of albums either overextend themselves into tired blasturbation and/or focus on way-too-distended slams that start to lose context after a while. Very few bands can do longer slam albums, and there are some who have written albums that are too short (fucking <b>Wormed</b>). This is a nice length, honestly, especially given the blindingly complex nature of the material. "Conceptual Metamorphosis" has the longest straight slow section on the album from what I recall, and even then it doesn't feel too bad because it erupts into a very quick and clever (due to use of stereo panning) next song.<br />
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It seems the US breeds a lot of bands sort of like this, to be honest. There are lots of Californian bands who basically spit out extreme-tech-death with nothing to hold on to, no big meaty riffs, no <i>love for the slams</i>. This is sort of a "fuck you" to that idea. If you like dissonant, chuggy brutal death metal that doesn't ever descend into self-indulgent wankery, instead preferring to blast the ever-loving shit out of everything in its vicinity, this is certainly the album for you. Oh, and it's up for pre-order <a href="http://www.brutalbands.com/index.html">here</a>. Do so now, for the love of the game, and for the love of awesome bands like this. Let us slam together once again, in brutal and destructive perfection.Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-68704599423805214392012-04-23T01:36:00.000-04:002012-05-24T21:29:12.689-04:00Chordotomy - The Precious Ideal (2012; Rotten Roll Rex)So, this is going to be a somewhat interesting review for us. It's basically
a "live" review consisting of banter between Logan and I while
listening to the album. It will be divided up as a "track-by-track"
review with a little bit of editing, but overall, we do discuss some of the
previously-heard tracks and how they interact with each other and the album as
a whole. It's a little bit funny, a little bit serious and quite critical on
the whole (while giving high praise when it is due, of course!). People like
our criticism and how explanatory we are here at S-M, so I hope this also does
the trick for those people, albeit in a different way than usual. If this
review style gets praise, we will do more like it (though keeping to ourselves
and going solo is how most reviews will be, per usual). Let's get this show on
the road:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">alrighty, let’s do this.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Einklang</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this definitely seems
cheesy so far.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it's not a really good
intro</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">why is it 4 minutes
long?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It just keeps going on
and on.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, this is an
immediate turnoff.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">no one listens to slam
for long-ass intros.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but i mean, i like the
demo so i want to see where it goes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's better then even
longer ass outros.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, haha, we're always
like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">15 MINUTE FINAL TRACK!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">EPIC!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Fuck you Condemned.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">oh god why, it's like 3
minutes and then nothing forever</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">All I'm getting out of
this is that some dude loves killing Craigslist prostitutes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Seems like the norm.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">and dropping them by the
river.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Wait</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i love how the female
anchor sounds extremely surprised by this trend</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">there's 12 victims</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">now theres 8 victims</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">"oh my god, there
are so many victims!"</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">what just happened</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha, he's zombifying
them.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goddamnit, this would've
been interesting had it only been a minute or so.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, this is much more
amusing because it's so fucking absurd.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">do the quick math,
that's 8 deaths</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but there were just 12</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">can't explain that</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">checkmate, atheists.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Long Island has a lot of
serial killers.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hhahaha "hopefully
we won't have any more bodies."</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">amen, dude. amen.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">SEE</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, the last part is
sort of sweet.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now the count is at 8!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this isn't very
chronological.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #9fc5e8;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Philosophy
of Suffering</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">production is a bit
overblown, hm.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The riffing is great but
that drum sound still bothers me.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">good slam transition,
i'm digging that. vocals are still nothing special though.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the drums are way quiet,
why is the snare being drowned out when it keeps beats in breakdowns? you know?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Oh there's a nice slam.
haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1:15</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hell yeah.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Kinda Devourmentish
vocal pacing.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah it's got kind of
the Majewski-drone haha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this would be a good
candidate for a funeral slam but</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hmm, that transition was
kinda iffy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">they sorta transition to
a more rolling slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I didn't like that
transition either tbh.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">bulldoze slams are good
but i think that one came at a weird time, whatever. back to the first motif.
getting a little repetitive here though.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Repeating the intro all
over again.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hm, i can live with the
next part though. it's got like a protracted tremolo-ish riff with good pacing</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The guitars really drown
out everything.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Oh shit yes</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, it's sort of
unnecessary. they are powerful.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Infected Malignity blast
slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">whoa, Cephalotripsy
breakdown at like 3:15</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">More bands need to do
that for fuck sakes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah haha, i don't get
why it's randomly unique to IM. then they were like "lol deathcore!1"</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goddamnit Japan.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #6fa8dc;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Structures
of Inexistence</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">EXCELLENT RIFF.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I gotta disagree a
little bit, haha. It sounds a bit wonky to me. </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i feel this one so far.
vocals are still non-engaging and almost not even a factor. </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Maybe it's just the
guitar production.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but it's got a good
charge to it.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i dunno, it isn't wonky
really, and the way they divebomb into that first slam is satisfying.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The slam is paced quite
differently.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, it's a bit thuggy</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Decent tremolo with a 4
note ending slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">do not like how they
dropped that one.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The hell is going on
here.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">good tremolo with a
measure of slam just goes full weird.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, they do bring it
back.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Come on, you were
building up to something epic.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Why just repeat the same
thing a bit faster.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, hmm... direction
on this song is a little bit rough. i mean, they had this problem on the demo
too.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This isn't a strip club,
don't tease me.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">some parts would just be
thrown out for no reason other than "whoa, wait, we need to have some
variety"</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Whoa</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">cool as fuck stuff going
on now</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That was almost like a
reverse slam, haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">kick drum following
slams is killer.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">More repetition</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i gotta say the kick
sounds shitty in that one tremolo-slam breakdown though.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">please build up to
something epic this time</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i mean, at 5:35, in this
genre, you better be going somewhere crazy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">What the fuck, come on.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">HAHA.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I've heard this riff 20
times.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The fuck.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it's not bad or anything
but wtf</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Mind = blown.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LOL </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WHAT THE FUCK</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WHAT ARE THESE HIGH
NOTES DOING</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">um, alright. sure. that
just happened.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's like Ancient
Necropsy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Just....</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ivan has better guitar
melodies.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">except not all fucking
weird and going crazy</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i dunno, that last album
wasn't so hot.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">anyway back to this one
though</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">whoa</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this going to be a
funeral slam?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">5:08 man, what the hell</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">YES.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LOL</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">THIS IS HAPPENING NOW.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Well, something epic
finally happened.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WHY DID YOU DO THIS HALF
A MINUTE BEFORE THE END</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WHAT</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">NO.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It just cut out abruptly
too.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">THAT COULD'VE GONE FOR
LIKE 4 MORE MINUTES LIKE THAT.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Oh come on, the next
track sounds incredibly similiar already.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Systematic
Extermination</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">: </span><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i think i liked this on
the demo iirc...</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He really loves those
tremolo riffs.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, coincidentally i
do too.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">vocals are drowned out
pretty badly.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the slams pretty typical
too. It's not that its a bad thing but I've heard this all before.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha let's see if they
did anything at the 2:20 mark or so</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">in my review i mentioned
being like "YES 9 NOTE SLAM, PLEASE GOD YES"</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">then it just doesn't
happen and somehow went well anyway</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">kind of Devourment-y</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hmm, I'm still upset
that the vocals are so drowned out.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">just less finesse</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It seems like the
production changes on every track</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">wait, what happened to
the epic ride cymbal usage here?!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">on the demo that weird
not quite generic slam was highlighted by rides</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Decent slam into more
tremolo.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, that next tremolo
riff is fairly sinister sounding</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">very old school</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">triplet slam</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like how the next slam
progresses.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, this is working
well for me. iirc it was the more brutal of the two demo songs.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But damnit.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was building up again
to something great</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this mixing is too much,
way overbearing.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but just repeated itself
again.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Cassandra
Effect</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">lol.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dat intro</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Almost Funebrarum styled
guitar intro.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dude, this is doomy
death metal.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Where's this going.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">......</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i... i think this might
be instrumental?!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is totally nu-metal
tinged.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">from doomy death metal
to nu-metal tinged riffage.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, it goes back
though</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Totally an instrumental.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it has the pacing and
lack of need for vocal percussion</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">to be an instrumental</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is actually good,
tbh.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">riffing's catchy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, this is a good
riff.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's just incredibly odd</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">and kinda out of place
in the album</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">nice guitar lead</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i feel like he probably
just went "check out this riff let's just write an instrumental with
it" and then it went from there.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">reminds me of the new
Esoteric.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">YES, it does.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">(always a good thing)</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i can go for a tasty
riff track once in a while.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The solo could've
evolved a little more on that, but it was great.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Odd feedback.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">if it's the minority it
comes out refreshing</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, not sure about the
ending</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #073763;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Bludgeoned
into Demise</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">killer slam</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LOL</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Voice Clip.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahahaha, the sample.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ah, it wasn't integrated
perfectly.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">unfortunately broke a
bit of the flow.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah but at least they go
back to dat riff</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Yea, I was slightly
confused.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WHOA</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that fucking drum part,
what the fuck</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i found the snare, dude.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it's all in this song</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Was expecting to go
somewhere completely different then another slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Drum fill.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ROFL.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">KILLER fill.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dude</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the vocal pacing</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is more like it, i
actually dig the flow here. it's sort of just slam-into-slam-into-slam with
drum fills.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">is totally Babykiller.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Weird blast.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahahahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">HOLY SHIT WTF JUST
HAPPENED</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">snare rolls.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Bass solo</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">kinda</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dude, this is winning.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Still though</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i love how this doesn't
really give a fuck.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I'm totally singing
Babykiller to his vocals</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">and it fits.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">100% </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2:20 slam doesn't really
bring the headbang enough.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">good thing they drop it.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ah, he's at the
midpoint. Discreate is the no fucks given slam band.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, pretty much. and
Putridity.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">simultaneously 0 fucks
and infinite fucks.'</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">3:14, weird transition</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Nice slam build up.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is kind of an
interesting slam</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it's a little bit off
rhythm for the typical one</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">or more melodic or
something.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hmm.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Funeral.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Decent.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">they always seem to put
them at the very very end</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I'm still not fully
enjoying this though.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Human
Derangement</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's great stuff, but
these songs could be much shorter.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">alright this was on the
demo too</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i remember immediately
liking it</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Odd little guitar riff.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but the production is
worse than the demo somehow.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">What's with this</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the vocals are higher in
the mix now</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, inconsistent...
not sure about that.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">no snare.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">during faster parts.
tempo is marked by kicks and they seem weird.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I hear it, but it's a
bit drowned out at points.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i mean, this and most
other slam albums would work better with a big, tight, ping-y slam</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">snare</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Gotta give the man some
credit though, this is a debut album, and being honest the production is quite
decent.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's no Syphilic, but
it's also no Artery Eruption.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That slam ended too
soon.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">oh, it is worthy
honestly. i mean we're being critical but this is solid shit. i feel like it's
certainly got some charm to it</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Into a weird melodic
riff</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2:03 is awesome</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">more understandable
vocals</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Guest vocals?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Or same guy?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sounded quite different.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it is probably him, but
i'm sure he'll tell us haha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LOL</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">SOURPUZ RIFF!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha it was</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That lasted way too
short.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">just needed to go into
some goofy blast</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">same slam with cool
melodic noodliness</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now this is more like
it, keep it short.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">IM slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ended way too soon.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hostile
Annihilation</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">what kind of
annihilation <i>isn't</i> hostile?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">are there like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">nice and concerned
annihilations?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Facepalm dude.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is a dumb as hell
slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">definitely the most
troglodytic song yet.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's headbangable,
definitely.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, totally.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">There's the odd melodic
tremelo.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was waiting for you!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">not sure i like that
here. hahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was perfectly fine</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the tone doesn't really
support the tremolo riffs much, i don't think.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">just the transitions
didn't work.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yea, if Colombia has
taught us anything it's that cocaine can fund an entire country, and tremolos
need to be extremely tinny and/or melodic.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i dunno man, this is
tedious.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">first song i'm not
feeling much at all.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it's throwing slams at
me but it just feels thrown together in this case.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I think it may just be a
factor of how long the album is. </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">well, okay, kinda fair.
guys, if you do actually read this; don't write albums over like 30 minutes...</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hmm, that ending slam is
pretty good.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">35 if you're really
feeling daring.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It's about 40 minutes
long if you take out the intro.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">only a handful of bands
can really make slam engaging for the length you've made this album, and
unfortunately this isn't quite there.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It does get tiring, only
Bodysnatch has made long slam albums kinda work.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">YES MORE INFECTED
MALIGNITY SLAMBLASTING.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But fuck you</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">cool blasting part,
actually yes</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">always ending it so
quickly.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">way too short, what the
fuck!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this band seems like
such a tease.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #6fa8dc;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Implements
of Natural Selection</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">trees and cars are the
same to this guy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i hope he drives a tree.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I think it's the album
length really.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This does seem a bit
tedious.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, it's getting
tiring at this point. album pacing is a fickle and tough thing, dude.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Decent slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Weird triplets.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i mean, you are ending
the album with two 5+ minute songs in a row.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, that's a cool one.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">with the hanging notes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I think it's the
production really. It's making it hard to put up with 44 minutes of it, haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, it's all
loudness-war'd and shit</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But that is an awesome
slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yes, yes this is more
like it</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">oh shit the
one-note-too-soon snare hit?!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that is the kind of
subtle brilliance that needs to happen more often </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I also praise them for
using the blasting slams.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">What the fuck</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that slam is so odd.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dude, whoa.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, wow.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1:45 or so on.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Technical Slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah 1:45 on this song
gets <i>weird</i></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Awesome riff now</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2:08 or so.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay, shit son. this is
much better than Hostile Annihilation so far. halfway through and i've been impressed
more than i have about half the rest of the album</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Also, this technically
isn't their debut, they've had an EP named Icepick Facefuck before</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but fuck that</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I only count full
lengths as debuts.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, true. we made an
exception for Gurchick Tree, kinda.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hopefully they don't get
mad at me like Begging For Incest did.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is a really really
heavy and oppressive riff</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">they make it into a slam
backed up by triplets.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that's sort of brilliant</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Great slam afterwards
too.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i mean, write a tremolo
riff, dissect it, make its basic root note parts into thicker slams, fill space
in with triplets on kick?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">profit?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They're so oddly paced,
you don't hear many bands attempt to play like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">20 notes in a slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">variations like that are
what really work here.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">LOL</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">why are the ends of
these songs always full of the most epic random shit.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The ending slam reminds
me of some old pop song, I can't quite put my finger on it.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">huge empty space slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I believe it was
something by Queen.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahahaha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I WANT TO RIDE MY
BICYCLE, I WANT TO RIDE MY BIIIIKKKEEEEEBLURGH</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #6fa8dc;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">A Mind in
Ruins</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goretrade riff </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">almost HSB styled.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The shit.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dude, this is almost
exactly like a slow version of something off the last Goretrade, hahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Heaven Shall Burn slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">whoa!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">wow.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Holy fuck</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that slam.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that was so fucking
cool.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">dude, these last two
songs are ridiculously good.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">rofl, their album
follows the trend of their songs.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The last song of the
album is epic as shit</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">just like how every song
ending is epic haha.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the middle of the album
seemed like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">why the fuck is this so
long</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">slapped together.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">haphazardly almost.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, i buy this a lot
more.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Really awesome tremolos
here.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it seems like they sell
the last few tracks a lot more. i wonder if it was conscious</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">very subtle, nice riff.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I still think this sound
a lot like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">he's got an ear for
melody that's for sure</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Heaven Shall Burn
sometimes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it does; it's the German
thing. hahaha</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2:30</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Whoa.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <i><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">my anus is ready</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goretrade breakdown.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">holy. fuck.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">with better production
this could be like one of the best melodic breakdowns i've ever fucken heard.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like the hanging
notes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, they do well with
open space which isn't very typical.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">letting slams breathe is
a good way to do it sometimes.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Defeated Sanity is the
only other band I know of that has pulled that off.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Coincidence? Damn
Germans.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">CHUN CHUN CHUN..... CHUN
CHU-CHUN-CHU CHUN....</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">*double bass*</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, i'm flashing back
to THAT ONE part.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">You know</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the ending of this track
if it follows the trends</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">this is groovy now, i
dig it.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">my mind will = blown or
well</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">finally some powerful
snare hits. it's about time.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I don't know really, I
won't be able to continue this review, as I'll be dead.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">half a minute left</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hahaha, they seriously
just did that.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ah, the ending wasn't
very impressive.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">lol, the ending.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Again, they cut off too
quickly.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yis-yis-yis-yis</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Gotta stick with these
ideas.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Also, that soundbyte.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goddamn.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">now its 23 counts of
murder.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Make up your mind.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">WRAP-UP AND
WHATNOT:</span></b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that could've been an
epic ending if the song were like 8 minutes long and they entirely cut out
Hostile Annihilation</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hostile Annihilation
never had a chance from the getgo.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">well maybe in the
meantime of the album playing he killed either 15 or 11 people.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">depending on if he had
originally killed 8 or 12.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">we're still not entirely
sure.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Stop rationalizing this.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goddamnit.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Well, albums over, and I
have the oddest feelings about it now.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i think the biggest
thing Chordotomy could take away from this review is that they need to make the
samples have a more consistent death toll.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that would entirely fix
all the problems here.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Keep us up to date after
every track.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">...</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Give us names.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ATTN LISTENERS, DUDE'S
KILLED LIKE... 13 PEOPLE NOW.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I want to know who died,
how, and why.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">okay no but seriously.
final thoughts?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But in all honesty, I
wasn't entirely feeling the album, until the last two tracks.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Especially A Mind In
Ruins.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">that was certainly
something else.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">they expanded on what
they gave on the demo; good effort and headbangability. now a word.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The instrumental was
interesting, the intro was just.... cheesy.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">but they also fumbled a
few times.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Every other track was a
mixture of greatness and facepalm moments.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, bad intro. keep it
short if you're gonna do it at all. it's not even necessary.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Except for Hostile
Annihilation. </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I almost feel like they
didn't care for that track themselves.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">intros establish an
atmosphere and should be consistent with the album's theme as a whole. don't
give 4 minutes and change of like... plinkety piano and murder recounts by news
stations, just dumb.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was like they were
just going through the motions.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, that was somewhat
of an afterthought, but it might've been its placement.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">it was at a point in the
album where you're anticipating what they'll do at the end to wrap it up but
it's not quite there</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The only other real
issues I could see would be a pretty obvious one</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">the production has no
real consistency.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">not only does it have
low consistent... it's just not that good.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">i liked the hollow
guitar tone on the demo but for this they were like</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">You need a cleaner
guitar tone for tremolos like that.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">hey guys the difference
between demo and "album" is that albums are louder, right?</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Andy</span></b><span style="color: #d73306; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">yeah, exactly. it needs
balance. this was a bit too... suffocating? clarity is actually a good thing,
people.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The snare disappears
randomly, the kickdrum goes from bearable and not really noticeable to fucking
annoying.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Logan</span></b><span style="color: #0f0595; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">:</span> <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">And during a few tracks
the vocals almost disappeared completely</span><br />
<br />
<b><u>END TRANSCRIPT</u></b><br />
<br />
Anyway like I said, this was sort of an experiment in a different review
style... hoping people (especially the band) read it and find it amusing and
informative. For best results listen to the album while reading the review and
see if you can line up your thoughts with ours. Sometimes we give timestamps
for those following along at home. Cheers!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-53858737759785645992012-04-16T19:25:00.000-04:002012-04-16T19:25:03.192-04:00Fumes of Decay - Devouring the Excavated (2011; Sevared Records)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNG3tfxi7cw/T4yqQqPGhJI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fzrNqSCFKKE/s1600/Fumes+of+Decay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNG3tfxi7cw/T4yqQqPGhJI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fzrNqSCFKKE/s200/Fumes+of+Decay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>At the request of an anonymous commenter here on Slam-Minded I took a look at <i>Devouring the Excavated</i>, a somewhat obscure album from Dutch band <b>Fumes of Decay</b>. It was released by Sevared, but until now I hadn't heard any talking about. Does this album deserve to be carried out of obscurity?<br />
<br />
After a couple listens my answer is "almost". <b>Fumes of Decay</b> sound like a less technical <b>Disgorge</b>. For a long time I've thought the Europeans do Cali DM better than the Americans, but <b>Fumes of Decay</b> are not quite as good as the elites of the genre from either continent. What you get here are quick, pounding slams contrasted with some evil sounding tremolo riffs. <i>Devouring the Excavated</i> is very lively and energetic, which always positive for a slam album. So many bands, especially when the try to add complexity, end up with a half-baked boring mess. <b>Fumes of Decay</b> escape that here, but in the end that's all that can be said about the album.<br />
<br />
What frustrated me most about this album was that whenever the band went in a unique and interesting direction, they quickly retreated back into average riffing. It's harder to appreciate an average album when you know the band is capable of more. Plenty of times <b>Fumes of Decay</b> had a great tremolo riff or a uniquely time slam, yet they would back off of it, almost as if they were afraid to experiment. This made Devouring the Excavated inconsistently great, which in my opinion is worse than consistently good.<br />
<br />
Now this is a debut album, so <b>Fumes of Decay</b> have plenty of time to improve. My advice for the next album: experiment! You have the talent to do it!Nick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-51842976235736181832012-03-15T21:30:00.002-04:002012-03-15T21:58:03.874-04:00Abominable Putridity - The Anomalies of Artificial Origins (2012; Brutal Bands)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D1THyWpJy2o/T2KXsRWeoTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/vdDDCUGXzUA/s1600/AP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D1THyWpJy2o/T2KXsRWeoTI/AAAAAAAAAOU/vdDDCUGXzUA/s200/AP.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I went into this album knowing I would be disappointed. For me <b>Abominable Putridity</b>'s 2007 debut<i> In The End of Human Existence</i> is one of the top slam albums of the decade. While it did nothing to transcend the genre (eg <b>Wormed</b> or <b>Defeated Sanity</b>) I feel it helped set the standard for what slam was as a genre. If I had to sum up slam death metal in one album I would choose that one.<br />
<br />
After listening to this album I found I was not as disappointed as I thought I was going to be. It has some flaws (which I'll get to later), but overall <i>The Anomalies of Artificial Origins</i> is a slick, well-written and well performed album.<br />
<br />
First the positives. <b>Abominable Putridity</b> have definitely upped the technicality. Now this always makes me a little nervous because so many bands substitute technicality for songwriting, but <b>AP</b> did it well here.The tech parts are well integrated with the slamming, never devolve into pointless wankery, and are actually intelligible. There are a lot of <b>Dying Fetus-</b>esque slicing arpeggios with touches of Cali DM tremolo melodies in the background. There's still plenty of headbanging slams of course, but it's nice to see a band evolve in a way that makes sense and that sounds good.<br />
<br />
This album also features the legendary Matti Way (<b>Disgorge</b>, <b>Pathology</b>) on vocals. If you're a fan (as you should be) you will enjoy his work here. His sick vocals have not lost any of their power in the 20 years since <b>Disgorge</b> first formed. One problem I did have was that the vocals were near constant throughout the album. As good as Matti Way is, it grates a little to hear him gurgling away through the whole song. Slam is all about the transitions - fast/slow, melody/rhythm, blast/breakdown - so when the vocals never let up they lose the power they would have had had they been silent for a little while. This is an example of too much of a good thing.<br />
<br />
Did this album live up to its predecessor? No, but I don't think it could've, at least for me. In 2007 slam was just getting started really. Slam-Minded was just getting started, and in many ways I was just getting started as an adult. <i>In the End of Human Existence</i> captured me and many others in the slam scene because it was the perfect album at the perfect time. There was no way a follow up album album was going to be as good. And that's a shame because <i>The Anomalies of Artificial Origins</i> is an excellent album.Nick Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14358514246277843459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-85071578046530941772012-03-11T23:18:00.003-04:002012-03-11T23:37:17.349-04:00Chordotomy - The Precious Ideal promo 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspvlq6B5fPcY2R_o924LX9D1gPuaRIIuT49Nc_giWJ8uzsAfryIaY-a9oeYNJU3DY0yrwlrEpmx8ybluOL4x-oMuHZsrb2dD8CyQqwyBpUmzk-2KzQCiHR-FS_CfGDWoUt0XFAuh8VjUm/s1600/irx5F.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspvlq6B5fPcY2R_o924LX9D1gPuaRIIuT49Nc_giWJ8uzsAfryIaY-a9oeYNJU3DY0yrwlrEpmx8ybluOL4x-oMuHZsrb2dD8CyQqwyBpUmzk-2KzQCiHR-FS_CfGDWoUt0XFAuh8VjUm/s320/irx5F.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718849523197536754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chordotomy</span> are definitely a new name to me, and I promised to give this promo a review for Hannes, in honor of him being our 400th like on Facebook. Thanks again, man!<br /><br />"Human Derangement" begins with a somewhat goregrind-y riff/drum combo before the first riff gets a bit melodic on us and a very groovy switch-up occurs, leading straight into a thugging slam with the normal kind of vocals. Gurgly and low but not outstanding, though the slams are certainly meaty enough that they don't need incredible vocals to help them along. The guitar tone is a bit weird and distinct; hollow and clear with good mixing. Slightly melodic riffs/sections peek out and work surprisingly well. I like how the slams in this song are generic and normal but don't outstay their welcome, nor do they offend the ears. Just pleasing stuff with a touch of originality and even a bit of professionalism in songwriting style. Drums seem programmed because there seem to be several patterns being repeated seamlessly, but perhaps it is an electric kit or heavily triggered. Regardless, doesn't truly matter as the rhythm section is underpinned by a good, hard snare sound and strong use of crashes to highlight simplistic breakdowns, making them more effective than they would with different production.<br /><br />"Systematic Extermination"'s first rhythm is just killer; a lurching, swaying beast of a beat that shows once again how simplicity and efficiency can go a long way to making something special even if the individual parts may seem stale or overdone. This song seems much more slam-focused; less melody and more really dumb, heavy riffs that really bludgeon you. The snare(?) during the interesting charging part at 1:39 is kind of wrong sounding and that part could honestly do with some meshing into the whole as well, as the slam it leads into is strong but isn't really arrived at in any logical fashion. Though that isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">bad</span>, per se, this demo seems to be very much about calculated, cold slam and for something so by-the-numbers it's weird to have a shoehorned-in section that doesn't make much sense. This seems like nitpicking, but I feel that I have slightly greater domain over criticism when it comes to demos/promos because of how inherently potential they are, unlike a full-album release which has already garnered a higher level of support. I was preparing for a serious 9-note slam at the 2:22 mark, but I was pleasantly surprised that they threw a slight curve ball with the ride-accentuated ending cadence.<br /><br />Interesting, but not mindblowing. That's what I'll file this under overall. I hear a lot of potential here, especially in the first song which goes to greater lengths to deviate from the norm than "Systematic Extermination", a song which, despite its slightly longer length, seems almost singularly devoted to churning out grooves (other than the extended "riffy" section later in the song; good stuff, dudes!). In promo terms, this is indicative of possible greatness in the future, but for now I congratulate Chordotomy for making me bang my head. You've done what plenty of demos I've heard in my time have failed to do. Stay at it and we'll definitely have a band to keep watch for.<br /><br />Also, way better cover art than almost any recent demo I can recall. Though I'm a sucker for flat gradient logos with linear fades and good color matching.Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-21645176982155113422012-02-21T23:52:00.006-05:002012-02-22T00:19:45.958-05:00Begging For Incest - Orgasmic Selfmutilation (2012)<a href="http://www.metal-archives.com/images/3/2/4/3/324362.jpg?5845"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.metal-archives.com/images/3/2/4/3/324362.jpg?5845" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Oh god. What the fuck has happened to me. First of all, I apologize, for I am slightly inebriated, but goddamn. I should not love this as much as I do. The band name is goddamned childish and quite awful, this band does nothing to further the genre in any damn way. Hell, even the song titles are pretty damn cliche. There is something about this damn album though, I can't stop listening to it, and I guess it's my duty to explain why.<br /><br />I'm sure everyone who reads this blog is well acquainted with Begging For Incest. They released a few demos a few years back which were quite mediocre Waking The Cadaver worship. That meant they were pretty damn bad in all honesty, but something happened here. It's almost as if they decided to buckle down and attempt to make something worthwhile, to create something that would stand the test of time, and prove that they were more then a clone of Waking The Cadaver. Oddly enough, they succeeded in a much different way then I assume they intended.<br /><br />Orgasmic Selfmutilation did not succeed on making something that stands out, at all, but it did succeed in making 28 minutes of the funnest slams and beatdowns ever put on CD. Seriously, I cannot stress this enough, this album is incredibly stupid. This makes Cephalotripsy look like Dream Theater when you break it down, but it is just so damn catchy. Begging For Incest mix beatdown breakdowns (sometimes misunderstood as deathcore breakdowns, but there is a difference), and huge slams, in a way that makes you want to break everything around you. Hell, as I write this I am humming the slams from Bashed Beyond Recognition, it's that catchy. If I were to aliken it to anything, it would be Cephalotripsy's debut album, in how you know it is just plain fucking stupid, but it sticks with you even if you wish it wouldn't. Hell, they even throw in some intense epic melodic riffs a la Ancient Necropsy and Inveracity, kudos to that.<br /><br />There really isn't much to be said about this album. Everything on it you've probably heard before, whether it be from a Abominable Putridity album, or a Waking The Cadaver album, but somehow these guys mix it together so well that you don't care about how retarded that sounds. The only real fault I can find within this album would have to be the vocals. They aren't really all that powerful, and sometimes detract from the listening experience, but thats just a nitpick really. I never thought I would say this, but Orgasmic Selfmutilation might be my favourite album of 2012 so far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-34807589965855269282012-02-15T23:48:00.002-05:002012-02-16T00:04:08.541-05:007 H.Target - Fast-Slow Demolition (2012; Coyote Records)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MCVJlByly-Xf9lRm4UlAZfXsasVhSxc7HBEguYGFedz7OLhQ4lzG6M9dtfjLa92ff1R5L38cyA_ckONW23uQoK_3_knxF9-n09L_j5HDMrfnp50fOdQq27uO-MqomgIKwpnL9_tLo_WA/s1600/7htarget.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MCVJlByly-Xf9lRm4UlAZfXsasVhSxc7HBEguYGFedz7OLhQ4lzG6M9dtfjLa92ff1R5L38cyA_ckONW23uQoK_3_knxF9-n09L_j5HDMrfnp50fOdQq27uO-MqomgIKwpnL9_tLo_WA/s320/7htarget.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709591143579351074" border="0" /></a>Wow, this is a good way to start off February. Welcome back, S-M devotees; here is the first great slam release of 2012. Russian Tetsuo-fanboys <span style="font-weight: bold;">7 H.Target</span> are here to brutalize you with some intense and crazy brutal death metal featuring strong vocal offerings, a great snare tone and punishing slams delivered in a variety of ways.<br /><br />This album pretty much wastes no time getting you acquainted with it other than by blowing straight out of the gates with a pinch-laden breakdown section featuring samples from their obvious favorite movie series. Big, meaty riffs are thrown down one after another before they decide to toss out all logic for a phasing drum segment and some <span style="font-weight: bold;">Devourment</span>-esque slam rolls. A funeral slam follows this section and almost seems to touch on incredibly slammy minimalism; I can safely say there's nothing like this album in the contemporary world of slam. Love the off-time slamming in the beginning of "Technosex"; this is the first part of the album where 7HT remind me greatly of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alienation Mental</span> circa <span style="font-style: italic;">Ball Spouter</span>, although there are way more coherent breakdowns on here and just a <span style="font-style: italic;">little</span> less spazziness than those Czech psychos. About halfway through this song, there's some really <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gorguts</span>-ish craziness going on, and this band excels at deviating from the norm in a very similar way to those Canadians; Logan described this to me as sounding like the band was listening to the aforementioned band and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Defeated Sanity</span> at the same time while drunk and/or high and just being like "yep, this sounds awesome, let's record something like it", but it even hits a bit more straightforward at times, such as the rolling riffs and rhythms on "Metal + Flesh". This album just <span style="font-style: italic;">works</span>, almost in spite of how much it feels ridiculous and over-the-top.<br /><br />This is a crazy, awesome album. It's listenable over and over because of how intense and varied it is; the beginning of "Drill Penis" has some crazy fret-mangling guitar stuff and there are parts that just sound like insane techno-grind; while all the sections feel very different, they don't feel forced or jammed together unnecessarily. Almost everything on this album feels somehow organically connected, despite some sections seeming very separate. I appreciate the band's use of reverbed snare to hit "full stops" in songs, because continuity doesn't feel lost. There are even some really groovy slams which really hit hard and satisfy big time, but they generally don't last that long. Even though everything fits exceedingly well, it does feel like it has a bit of songwriting-ADD overall. It's incredibly enjoyable, though, in spite of its own ridiculousness. Perhaps the band members just realized this is amusing and fun shit and decided to make it sound as "serious" and "true" as possible, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Whatever the case, you should probably all be listening to and loving this. It's diverse, entertaining and progressive slam with lots of surprises. Great shit from the Motherland. Hope this year brings more our way.Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8749781438293733221.post-62002293908558025512012-01-03T02:00:00.007-05:002012-01-03T15:36:05.629-05:00Top Ten of 2011 + SuperlativesWell, it's slightly overdue, but here's S-M's top ten albums of the year 2011. It's been kind of a weird year for slam; not a lot of big albums vying for control of the slam populace, but not a lot of totally awful things either. Just a lot of a). albums by bands who had previously done average albums that we never really cared about much overall or b). bands we've never heard of doing killer things, for the most part.<br /><br />Back when this blog started in 2007 by Nick and I, we did our first top ten with a superlatives section; basically the same as you remember from high school..."Most Popular", "Best Looking", "Most Likely to Smoke Crack and Worship Satan by 20"...you know the deal. This year, Logan had a great idea; take that much-loved idea and extrapolate it here, 4 years later. On top of this, we are doing what we've done the last several years and writing mini-reviews for our top 10 albums as well. Enjoy the reading material and we'll see you in 2012!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Debut Full-Length:</span><br /><br />Logan and I didn't have to think too hard about this one. A clear winner was already in our minds; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ezophagothomia</span>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Instinct of Inhuman Devourment</span>. Though a stylistic shift from their demo, which was predominantly fueled by funeral slams and thus a polarizing entry into slam's illustrious past, it won our hearts with its spectacular-but-not-showboating technicality, intense heavy slamming and rhythmic complexity, all underpinned by a guttural and on-par vocal assault. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodysnatch</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abnormity</span> both had good entries in this category as well (as you know if you follow this blog/listen to the bands in question), but neither is as successful as this bulldozing slam assault.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Debut Demo or EP:</span><br /><br />Here's another no-brainer over here at S-M. Love having our work cut out for us; thanks excellent slam bands! Our choice here is <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gurchick Tree</span>, no questions asked. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Envenomation</span> had a good debut as well, but then they broke up and they really weren't as tight or as developed as this fledgling band either. TGT are New Jersey slam continuing in the wake of destruction laid forth by bands such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dripping</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Digested Flesh</span>; they combine dark, sometimes industrial tinged slams with a solid charging rhythm section and a wounded atmosphere. These youngins' are well on their way to achieving slam domination, and we are proud to fully support their brutal endeavors. Cheers!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heaviest Album:</span><br /><br />There are a few valid choices for this category. So much for these being simplistic, huh? "Heaviness" works on a few tangible levels, as well as a few less objective levels. There is heavy stuff that's heavy mainly because of the production (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pathology</span> is a good example here; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abnormity</span> would probably be a solid candidate for this type of gravity, as well) and there is stuff that is heavy because of how abominable and ridiculous it sounds. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Putridity</span> would be my submission for this category simply because of how well they handle the latter and take a really clean jab at the former. Since we've decided that this has to be decided as a joint effort and that there can really be no dissent, that makes this pretty difficult. I prefer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Putridity</span>, Logan prefers <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pathology</span>. I think we can agree to disagree here, though, and I will throw my chip in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pathology</span>'s corner. Surprised? While I may not be their biggest fan, the new album is clearly their best and heaviest album to date and more than makes up for what it lacks in thought-provoking lyrical content and ofttimes-silly vocals in "sheer decibels," which would be Logan's term for this band's uncanny edge over their intense competition. We take our slamming very seriously here at S-M and won't have any amount of weakness in our ranks, after all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Catchiest/Grooviest Album:</span><br /><br />Slight dissent on this one lead to me gaining the upper hand due to my politically-motivated decision to concede on the former category. Yes, yes I'm a two-faced douche, but this was for a good cause. Despite its flaws and goofs, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodysnatch</span>'s debut is absolutely the grooviest AND catchiest album of this year for us. I find myself replaying Spectral Repudiation in my head constantly, I have the "suffering humans ready for the promised land" part of Shotgun Therapy stuck in my mind perpetually, and honestly even though it's long it just doesn't feel it most of the time; not enough to affect my judgment of its catchiness, anyway. This band has seriously come leaps-and-bounds from their completely underwhelming debut EP and I'm psyched they did because when this album slams, it slams hard and it slams enjoyably. A runner-up would probably be <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abnormity</span>'s debut, though; as Logan points out, "Emenation of Putrid Entrails" is one of THE defining groovy slam songs of this year (and possibly ever in the realm of modern slam death; debatable).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Most Epic:</span><br /><br />A few albums could certainly be considered epic this year. If you recall 2007 on this blog at all (and if you do, you kick ass; S-M OGs, this is for you), we named <span style="font-weight: bold;">Inveracity</span> for this award because <span style="font-style: italic;">Extermination of Millions</span> had just dropped and we were floored by its sick, flowing riffage. This year, we're taking a different route, though.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Condemned</span>'s sophomore effort has epic written all over it; this is in direct opposition to <span style="font-style: italic;">Desecrate the Vile</span>, which, in both Logan's opinion and my own, was a major letdown given the hype and personnel involved with its inception. The new one is a different beast entirely, going through movements of flurrying, high-speed tremolo riffs, tense and subtle interplay between rhythm and riff and some striking funeral slam action. This album embodies all that is awesome about the "darker" side of slam; it's similar to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Orchidectomy</span>'s one-off album in that regard, which is never a bad thing to be compared to considering that album is badass. This album renewed our faith in a band I originally wrote off, and for that alone it is easily the most epic. Runner-up for this category would have to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">Decaying Purity</span>'s sophomore album, a continuation and development of the unique and catchy style on display during <span style="font-style: italic;">Phases of Dimensional Torture</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Most Drastic Change:</span><br /><br />I feel bad "awarding" this because it's really not a positive change at all. It also slipped under a lot of people's radars, but I feel that S-M's opinion needs to be aired. Remember my <a href="http://slam-minded.blogspot.com/2009/07/regurgitate-life-demo-2008.html">review</a> for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Regurgitate Life</span>'s demo that I wrote back in '09 (demo released '08)? Well, I was pretty fucking psyched to see that he had released a new EP. So, I grab the new EP and I'm greeted by a horrendous drum machine kick roll with a second/third-rate <span style="font-weight: bold;">Morbid Angel</span> riff lazily droning over the top. Maybe it'll get better? Nope, fucking deathcore vocals over basic charging death metal. Not a good change, in my opinion; any band going from sick <span style="font-weight: bold;">Defeated Sanity</span>-meets-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suffocation</span> to this is unworthy of this blog. It might be fine for fans of more pedestrian death metal, but it hardly satiates my intense desire for carnivorous, flesh-seeking brutality. Avoid and possibly weep at the last decent UKDM band's descent into quivering mediocrity (R.I.P. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Embryonic Depravity</span>, you are sorely missed).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Cover Art:</span><br /><br />I may have snubbed these Italian psychopaths for the Heaviest Award, but I fully intended to make Logan regret leading me to the 'pathological' dark side on the Heaviest Album superlative. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Putridity</span> really knocks it out of the park with this one. Perfect logo/album title placement and layout, excellent composition which is very evocative of the sounds therein, and the design as a whole is sick. We are also both of the mind that their debut had great art adorning its cover as well, so it's only natural that they'd deserve this award. It may not be an award for "sound" but since art (yes, slam is art) is to be judged on its complete package rather than any single aspect, this cover oozes brutality and sickness and gives an accurate depiction of the whirlwind of frenzied, uncaring brutality lying dormant within.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Biggest Disappointment:</span><br /><br />S-M hereby expresses disappointment in having had to wait until 2012 for all of the alleged releases that should break the minds and collarbones of all slam fans worldwide. Not that this year was really a slouch, but on the order for '12, we're looking at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wormed</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Devourment</span>, TWO <span style="font-weight: bold;">DISGORGE</span> ALBUMS, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vulvectomy</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abominable Putridity</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Guttural Secrete</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Down From The Wound</span> and possibly <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cephalotripsy</span>, along with a host of other surprises...maybe Japan will finally do something awesome again? Maybe another third-world band will utterly wreck the competition? Who knows what's going to happen? We're psyched to return with renewed intensity and brutality for this year, though, since it promises to slam all posers back into the annals of the earth they crawled out from around the time deathcore started trying to masquerade as slam. Brutal supremacy is on the order, and we'll all stand united to witness it. Thus it is spoken, and thus it shall be known. To bring up an eternal quote from Logan re: the state of slam/this planet in the upcoming year: "2012 year of the slam...thats how the apocalypse is going to happen, so much high quality heavy slam that it causes earthquakes across the land."<br /><br />TOP TEN SECTIONS! Here are our top ten lists for 2011, including mini-reviews for each album listed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andy:</span><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ezophagothomia</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Instinct Of Inhuman Devourment</span><br />First of all, as I've mentioned to Logan multiple times, any album that comes along which can make me write post-apocalyptic zombie fiction in the form of a review is worthy of a ton of praise. This album has practically everything necessary to be an amazing slam album, from a great (and varied) rhythm section to huge, epic slams, solid vocals and a heavy dose of obliterating, desolate atmosphere. We all thought their debut demo made waves with its almost entirely funeral slam based style, but their debut, although a step in a very different direction, made a slam tsunami by comparison and we couldn't be more excited to follow this awesome band.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodysnatch</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Insights of a Rotten Theatre</span></span><br />This came out of literally nowhere for me and kicked my ass on many, many levels. Whether it be due to the insane vocal highlights, gut-punching thug-slams or quirky, amusing solos/fun sections. This is definitely the most listenable, grooviest slam album of the year and deserves a spot near the top for these reasons. Bands rarely make incredible jumps in quality and formal style from their debut EPs to their first proper "albums", but somehow, this random band who I paid no attention to before released a slam album twice as long and twice as great as most others in its style. Bravo, gents.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Condemned</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Realms of the Ungodly</span></span><br />Exuding a dark, hateful and evil atmosphere is just the first step towards the top rung of the ladder for this CA-based slam band featuring Cephalotripsy members. If you recall, I really had nothing good to say about this band's debut; I found it very overhyped with very little interesting substance and songs that seemed like flash-in-the-pan style pieces with no continuity. This is an entirely different piece of amazing work. The feel present on this album is like a blurrier Orchidectomy, which is a great thing considering that band's excellent (and only) album. The flow of this work is unparalleled and it just generally feels like they've grown much stronger as a band over time.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Putridity</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Degenerating Anthropophagical </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Euphoria</span><br />There is not really much to say about this album; it's a feral, whirlwind tour-de-force of extreme brutal death metal with absolutely zero concessions, no emotional investment and a completely psychotic take on a stale sound. By sounding like a band that both doesn't give a fuck and simultaneously puts a surprising and refreshing amount of nuance into their chaotic brand of blast-slam guttural spew, Putridity wrecks all kinds of shit with their sophomore entry. This is necessary brutality.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pathology</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Awaken to the Suffering</span></span><br />There is a logical and fine thread guiding the band to this point if you listen to all of their albums leading to this, their most masterful work of breakdown-laden Calislam to date. Big, dumb breakdowns are sandwiched within excellently crafted riffs and some surprises (fucking djent breakdown mid-album thing, what?), and Huber's vocals are both impressive and overbearing, sometimes both at once. Despite its minor flaws, such as the glossy coat of production that practically threatens to consume any emotion present, this is a finely crafted, artisanal piece of slam death that puts it at odds with equally big, shiny bands from across the pond and beyond; a good sign that slam is alive and well.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gurchick Tree</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sadistic Reflections of Blood</span></span> EP<br />The only EP on my top ten, these dudes know what slam is, how it is written and the ins-and-outs of all of its tropes. Starting with this foundation, they deconstruct, subvert and capitalize on all of the cliche things in the genre, devising a style which is at once both easily recognizable and undeniably their own. It has a surprising sense of urgency to it, combining the best elements of Devourment, Digested Flesh and Saprogenic, and even though it has a mid-album acoustic intro, it's anything but relaxing; creepy, entirely off-kilter and fascinating evil just oozes from this band's debut. I am extremely interested in how they develop this sound. Easily one of the best new bands, and a reminder that the East Coast can slam just as well as the West.<br /><br />7. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Decaying Purity</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Existence of Infinite Agony</span></span><br />Recognized years ago in <a href="http://slam-minded.blogspot.com/2008/06/decaying-purity-phases-of-dimensional.html">this</a> review for their own epic brand of brutality, Decaying Purity are a stalwart Turkish band who know how to craft urgent, fast-paced and undeniably special songs from a combination of intense riffage and methodical tempo shifts. Though rarely slamming, their Deeds of Flesh-esque songwriting and intense riffcraft catapult them into any worthwhile top ten list. The production is a bit weaker than the debut, in my opinion, sacrificing heaviness for clarity, but it doesn't have many faults when looked at holistically.<br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Syphilic</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Composition of Murder</span></span><br />An impressive effort by a solo artist who has never managed to impress me (despite good attempts at doing just that), this album shows this Michiganer going conceptual and mature on the slam realm and almost entirely eschewing slam in the process. Regardless, however, it's well-written stuff that threads between absurd blasturbation, technical marvel and surprisingly poignant melody while only rarely missing a beat. All of this is wrapped in a very clean production with crisp dynamics and a penchant for being unruly and brutal.<br /><br />9. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Prophecy</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Fuckin' Mess With Texas</span></span><br />I've always thought of this TX band as kind of a joke, but this album laid all of my previous mental musings to waste, assaulting the devout slammer with thick, beatdown riffage and surprisingly dynamic songs. The production is blunt, visceral and thick but the music is somehow more thoughtful and fine-tuned than most people would imagine could come from a band whose first song angrily threatens "don't fuckin' mess with Texas/don't fuckin' mess with us". Despite the cheesiness (or maybe sometimes because of it?) this is a really badass album chock full of listenability, excellent musicianship and good ol' charm. Plus, they just seem really fucking into it, and that's always cool to hear.<br /><br />10. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abnormity</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Irreversible Disintegration</span></span><br />This has fallen through my charts fairly steadily as its veneer of squeaky-cleanliness left it a bit short of what it could've been had they went with a bit more heart to the playing, but it's still a worthy Russian BDM album with one of the most exemplary songs in modern slam. Heartily-played, tightly-wound and brutal as all fuck, Abnormity certainly won't win any awards for connecting to its audience but it does more than most albums this year did to fulfill that raging primal force inside all fans of this music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Logan:</span><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ezophagothomia</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Instinct Of Inhuman Devourment</span><br />Do you hear that unholy noise? It's the sound of the slampocalypse, and Ezophagothomia are the harbingers. Everything about this album is apocalyptic, the slams are immense, the drumming is absolutely incredible (although they could've used a less triggered sound), the vocals are pretty damn good, and above all, it actually sounds, dare I say, dangerous. It may not be the catchiest album of 2011, heaviest, or even the most brutal, but an atmosphere like this is just incredible in its own right. <span style="font-style: italic;">Instinct Of Inhuman Devourment</span> is a bonafide slam masterpiece.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cephalotripsy</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2011 Promo</span><br />Whoa shit, a three track promo on a top 10 list!? And ranked number 2 to boot? How does a three track promo get listed above Putridity or Condemned? It's simple really, Cephalotripsy came back and improved on every aspect of their craft. Angel Ochoa's vocals are more varied, and thought out, the slams are mammoth-like, and Forest's drumming has been taken to the next level. He's become a mini-Lille, and I love it. Hell, if they released this along with 5 other songs, I would've placed this in Ezo's stead, but the way it is, the highest I can put it is #2.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Putridity</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria</span><br /><br />Seriously, what the fuck. Putridity signs to Willowtip of all labels, then comes out with a great fucking album that's so far away from typical Willowtip fare. Nothing is safe on this album. Sitting through the entire thing is like getting curbstomped by Jon Jones. This has to be one of the most brutal albums in the last few years, if not the most brutal, but therein lies the problem. One can only handle so many beatings, and this album is no different. It does get tiring after a while. Still, for what it is, it's quite amazing, especially considering its one track mind. Enmity take note, this is how you make this style sound good.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Condemned</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Realms Of The Ungodly</span><br /><br />Condemned's debut album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Desecrate The Vile</span>, was incredibly disappointing. Nothing really worked in that album, the riffs were regurgitated cali-slam-isms, the vocals were monotonous, and the production ruined absolutely ANY chance of it being good. I had placed them on my shit list, but good lord, did they ever rectify their faults. <span style="font-style: italic;">Realms Of The Ungodly</span> is a HUGE improvement, and even that is an understatement. Everything has been overhauled, the guitarwork is blistering, Angel created some great vocal patterns, and like I said before, Forest is Lille junior. Couple that in with a dark atmosphere, and an kick-ass booklet (seriously, artistic renditions of single tracks? Awesome!), and you have a potential classic. The only gripe I can see is with the drum production, it does get a bit typewriterish at times, but thats not enough to take away my enjoyment.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Syphilic</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Composition Of Murder</span><br /><br />This is where my list starts to get hazy, as all of the albums are of similar quality. A Composition Of Murder is a single track album, an attempt at a Brutal Death Metal epic, and it actually works. Everything about it just sounds so damn professional. The production is incredible (although too loud at times), and the instrumentation is just stupendous. Even the drum programming seems incredibly technical and nuanced.. The only real downside to this album was that it seemed to lose its way halfway through, and the overall lack of noticeable slams. Other then that, it's a huge improvement over Behind Bars, and is quite ambitious. I hope more artists try this out.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pathology</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Awakening The Suffering</span><br /><br />First off, if you think this is deathcore, go fuck yourself. This is what happens with Calislam and the Russian scene mingle. No album this year is as heavy. The slams are earth-shattering. Interspersed in between the many slams are your typical Cali-gorge styled riffage, mixed in with Cannibal Corpse-styled melodic riffs. It works out pretty well. The production is hefty and pristine, just like you'd expect out of Victory Records. I do have to point out though that I have to disagree with Andy on Mr Huber's vocal performance. I think it's great, and incredibly varied. Pathology really should take some extra time though before releasing another album so that they can keep the quality up all around, as <span style="font-style: italic;">Awakening The Suffering</span> does have a few tracks that just fall flat.<br /><br />7. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bodysnatch</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Insights Of A Rotten Theatre</span><br /><br />This album is just plain dumb. The production is decent, except for the constant sliding noise, the album booklet is sparse and half assed, the riffage is repetitive, and the songs do get way too long for their own good. I'm sure you're asking yourselves "But Logan, how does this get so high on your list?". Oh, the riffs may be repetitive, but it's great bouncy fun, like a dumbed down Soils Of Fate, and Bodysnatch has the best vocal performance of ANY band in the slam scene since Angel on Cephalotripsy. The vocals are so incredibly varied, well placed, and just plain hilarious. This album can be alikened to Beavis and Butthead. It's dumb as fuck, but it mesmerizes you.<br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gurchick Tree</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sadistic Reflections Of Blood</span> EP<br /><br />I had absolutely no expectations for this EP coming into it. It came out of nowhere, dropped on a forum I frequent, and the reviews for it seemed to be mixed. I am glad I gave it a listen though. Although I do believe the production can use a little more heft, and that the instrumental intro and interlude should just be scrapped, the songs on this EP are just great. From the Cali-ish blasts of Severed Head Sodomy to the industrial tinged slams in Inject the Morphine, The Gurchick Tree proves themselves an incredibly capable band. I just hope that they can flesh out their ideas more, and write longer, more mature songs (Short Bus Pile Up, I'm looking at you too! <3).<br /><br />9. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Abdicate</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Transcend Through Sacrifice</span><br /><br />I'm going to get in shit for putting this above Abnormity, but here goes. I really didn't like Abdicate's debut full length, Forged In Ruin, so I had low expectations for this. I'm happy to say that <span style="font-style: italic;">Transcend Through Sacrifice</span> fixed a lot of their faults. The production is hefty as all hell. The vocal performance is nothing to write home about, but is decent, the guitarwork is pretty workmanlike, but well crafted. The drumming on the other hand is pretty damn impressive, and reminds me heavily of Derek Roddy for some odd reason. The only real gripe I had with this album was the lack of a stand out moment, but really, when you have an album full of good moments, I can overlook the lack of any Field Of The Impaled level moments.<br /><br />10. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Decaying Purity</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Existence Of Infinite Agony</span><br /><br />I am so damn disappointed to put this at #10, truly I am. I loved their debut, and I do believe that Decaying Purity is Turkey's greatest export, but I was disappointed by the follow up. Although the production is improved from their debut, the riffing and drumming lack the intensity that Phases had. During my first listen I had to stop about halfway through just due to being bored, but I sat down a few months after its release to give it a fair shake, and something happened. That something being the track The River Of Entrails. That track alone catapulted this album up from the rest of the middle of the road slam out there, and into the upper echelon. Inveracity eat your heart out, this is how you do an epic slam song. The build up half way through is just genius, segways into what is possibly my favourite riff ever, and then it ends. I just really wish they had more moments like that.Andy Phelpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13495166827619712486noreply@blogger.com14