This EP is a brutal display of death metal straight out of my hometown, San Antonio. The band, with their hunger for destruction, delivers a heavy and disgusting take on the genre, channeling the raw energy of death metal in its most filthy form. What stands out the most here is the groove embedded within their chaotic songs. The riffs, for a death metal band of this caliber, have an undeniable groove to them, offering something more than just straight-up blast beats and brutality. The guitars are sharp and heavy, providing a solid backbone throughout, and the vocals are consistently brutal, maintaining that gritty, guttural style that fits perfectly within this grim subgenre. While the vocal delivery doesn’t vary much, in death metal, especially of this style, there’s really no need for too much versatility. The aggression and intensity remain constant, which is exactly what fans expect.
However, the EP isn’t without its flaws, primarily in the drum and bass sections. The kick drum is oddly muffled and buried too far in the mix, making it almost inaudible at times. While the snare and cymbals come through fine, the blast beats often get lost, with the heavy guitars and vocals overwhelming the drums. This creates a sense of imbalance, where the rhythm section feels almost like an afterthought. The bass, unfortunately, suffers the most—it’s so drowned in the mix that it feels completely non-existent. This lack of clarity in the lower end detracts from the overall power of the music.
Despite these production issues, the band certainly has the right idea. Their blend of grooves and brutality showcases a lot of potential, but with better production and tighter drum and bass work, they could really elevate their sound to the next level. They’ve got the core elements, now they just need the right mix to let it all shine.
RATING: 6.5/10
NOTIABLE TRACKS:
Encased (Septic Perdition)
Knife Goes In..Guts Come Out
Human Debris