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| #FOR FANS OF: Death Metal, Kreator, Sodom, Holy Moses |
Canadian-born but certainly Germanic-worshippers, Untimely Demise offer up their second album, 'Systematic Eradication', and it shows the band is really starting to come into their own with this sound. More often-than-not, the band decides to thrash away with a series of darker, more intense thrash-styled riffs that are eerily familiar to those that follow the route of the German thrash bands from the 80s, and in conjunction with a harsh, almost Black Metal-like growl to the vocals that were commonly used in both Kreator and Sodom at the time rather than the American scene which utilized a lot more clean-singing vocals which gives this a lot more of a dark, heavy tone that is hardly utilized in the acts which follow the American format. The band indeed seems to have learned the lessons well from these Teutonic forbearers with a series of strong, fast-paced tracks that whip throughout their running time with lightning-fast riffs, pounding drumming and a rather familiar buzzing bass tone that creates an image of “Kill with Pleasure”, “Agent Orange” and “The New Machine of Liechtenstein” in their prime, as "Spiritual Embezzlement", "Somali Pirates" and "A Warrior’s Blood" all demonstrate quite ably. Not content to simply dishing out the same formulaic approach, there’s a few curveballs thrown in for good measure, as "The Last Guildsman" attempts to experiment utilizing the harsher vocals in a more melodic role against atmospheric riff-work while still incorporating elements of thrash into the mix, and at times it’s a fine track while there’s some rather off-kilter ones as well. "Redemption" meanwhile attempts to play with a series of different tempos and guitar variations to "Navigator’s Choice" which features some more slower-paced rhythms that switches back-and-forth into frantic thrashing which at least demonstrates some different ideas that could come into play later on. It’s not a bad offering from a group of newcomers, and I suspect album three is where they’ll hit their stride. (Don Anelli)
(Punishment 18 Records - 2013)
Score: 80
https://www.facebook.com/UntimelyDemise
Score: 80
https://www.facebook.com/UntimelyDemise