Punctured offers a death metal experience filled with potential, but it often finds itself bogged down by a lack of cohesion and a tendency to overstay its welcome. The band has many solid ideas, but at times, these concepts feel crammed together into single songs or stretched out too long, leaving the listener fatigued. There's no denying that the band isn’t bad by any means, but there's room for improvement in terms of structuring their songs and refining their approach.

One of the standout elements of this ep is the drumming. From the snappy snare to the dynamic, intricate playing, the drums are by far the most interesting and engaging part of the band’s sound. Tracks like "Scorched Beyond Belief" and "Adversary Enfleshed" showcase the drummer’s ability to bring a level of excitement and groove that elevates the entire ep. The fast beats and creative patterns make each track feel alive, and the snare drum cuts through the mix in a way that commands attention. The percussion truly shines on every song, and it’s hard to ignore the impact it has.

The bass also deserves praise. It's heavy, vibrant, and mixed well across most of the tracks, adding a layer of depth to the sound. "Prophecies of Achlys" and "Hands of Torment" are prime examples of how the bass drives the groove, adding weight and power. The only track where the bass seems to lose some of its impact is "Trinity Unseen," where the bass could have been a little more prominent. Even so, when it's given room to shine, the bass brings a satisfying fullness to the mix.

The guitars, however, are a bit of a letdown. While they are undeniably heavy and chuggy, they often feel predictable, and at times, even a bit monotonous. The riffs start to blend together, and there were moments where I found myself zoning out. It's clear that the band knows how to create a crushing sound, but there isn't enough variation or surprise to keep things engaging throughout the record. The guitar work may be aggressive, but it lacks the complexity to truly captivate the listener, often making the ep feel like a repetitive experience.

Production-wise, everything is crisp and clear, allowing each element to be distinct. The snare drum, in particular, stands out as a prominent feature of the mix. The vocals are consistent and solid, fitting the brutal death metal style, but they lack the necessary variation to keep them interesting. While the vocals do get a little more dynamic on "Prophecies of Achlys," where there’s a brief switch-up in style with pig squeals, overall, they feel a bit stagnant throughout the rest of the album.

The problem with Punctured isn’t the individual ideas—it’s the execution. The band crams a lot into each song, and at times, it just feels like too much. Some songs could be tighter if they trimmed the excess or simply ended before they overstay their welcome. The songs tend to drag on, especially when they introduce multiple riffs and ideas that don’t always land. If the band were to cut down on the song length and refine their writing, they could have created a much more cohesive and impactful ep.

• The Dawn Before Rapture sets the tone with solid, heavy riffs and a snappy snare drum that immediately grabs your attention. The bass follows suit, adding a nice groove, but the song doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking. It’s heavy, and the vocals are decent, but it feels a bit too formulaic.

• Scorched Beyond Belief is more intense, with fast, ripping riffs and a pounding snare that steals the show. The drumming here is exceptional, and the song’s production is tight. However, the song goes on for a bit too long, and by the time the two-minute mark hits, it feels like four minutes have passed. The track would have been more effective if it were more concise.

• Trinity Unseen suffers from a bit of repetition and bland riffs. While the drums continue to impress, the song lacks the spark that would make it stand out. The bass could have been more prominent, and the track overall drags on longer than necessary.

• Prophecies of Achlys gives us some much-needed variety. The bass work is excellent here, and the drumming continues to shine. The riffs are fast and dense, though still a bit predictable. However, halfway through, the band switches things up, introducing pig squeals and a more nuanced vocal flow, which adds some much-needed texture to the song.

• Hands of Torment brings a better sense of pacing. The groovy drums are engaging, and the riffs pack a punch. However, after several tracks of similar vocal styles, the vocals here feel a bit stale, and the song loses some of its intensity by the end.

• Adversary Enfleshed closes the album with a slower pace, but the drumming remains the driving force behind the song’s energy. The riffs are heavy, though they’re a bit standard and predictable. The breakdowns are solid, and the pig squeals add some interesting flavor, but the song still suffers from being a bit too long.

Punctured is a death metal ep with potential, but it’s weighed down by a lack of focus and overly lengthy tracks. The drumming and bass are the standout elements, consistently delivering punch and groove, while the guitar work and vocals occasionally fail to make the impact they should. With tighter songwriting and a more refined approach, this band could have created something truly memorable. Instead, they’ve delivered a solid, but bloated, ep that will appeal to fans of the genre, but ultimately leaves a little too much to be desired.