This new EP from Esculea Grind is pure death metal at its absolute peak—utterly crushing and relentless from start to finish. This American death metal band has been making waves and tearing through the live scene for a few years now, and after listening to this EP, it's easy to understand why. They’re bringing the noise in a big way, with filthy, grimey riffs, destructive drumming, and vocals that are nothing short of disgustingly impressive.

The riffs on this EP are a real highlight, moving seamlessly from simple, low-tuned chugs to technical, razor-sharp shred-fests. The guitarist is a beast, effortlessly ripping through each track with precision and intensity, making every song sound super tight and downright insane. You can feel the power in every chord and bend, and the way they keep things unpredictable and dynamic makes each track feel fresh and exciting.

The drumming is another standout, with a deep, hollow sound that’s almost oddly muffled at times. While it might seem a little strange at first, it actually works incredibly well for the style of death metal these guys are playing. The production allows the drums to feel massive, especially when they’re hammering through blast beats—giving the whole EP an aggressive, pounding force that amplifies the intensity of every moment.

But the real star of the show? The vocals. If I hadn’t seen pictures of this band, I would’ve never guessed that these monstrous growls and shrieks were coming from a smaller gal. She’s an absolute powerhouse, able to go toe-to-toe with any death metal vocalist and leave them in the dust. Her range is seriously impressive, from deep, guttural death growls to unclean screams that sound like they’re ripping from the depths of hell itself. I also loved how she casually threw in some random ‘bleghs’ throughout the tracks—something that might seem small, but it shows her great timing and control, a skill that too many death metal vocalists overlook.

Production-wise, this EP strikes the perfect balance between clean and rough. It captures that raw, death metal atmosphere that fans crave, with just enough polish to make everything feel coherent. That said, the bass is a little hard to pick out in the mix, which was a bit of a letdown. It’s not totally absent, but it could’ve been better integrated into the overall sound. Also, while most of the tracks here felt creative and full of energy, there was one that sounded a bit too familiar—like something straight out of the typical death metal playbook. Still, it’s a small blemish in what is otherwise an absolute ripper of a release.

All in all, Esculea Grind is coming in hot with this EP. They’ve proven that they know how to deliver both technical prowess and sheer brutality, and they’re only going to get better from here. Keep your eyes and ears on this band, because they’re going places fast.