100 Demons "s/t" CD
[Deathwish]
Sweet, holy fuckin' hell... it's been over three years since their last record, and this fucker blows that shit out of the water! It's faster, more precise, way more metal... you name it, this is better in every respect. Expect a mix of fucking pummeling NYHC styled metalcore with a European flare, as well as shitloads of metal ala All Out War meets tactful and creative melodic Swedish death metal. Yeah, you heard it. I said it was actually creative in its use of melodic Swedish influences... and I mean that shit. The chord phrasings are melodic but just a little dissonant, some of the more straightforward rhythms are total thrash with more of that chunky hardcore breakdown angle... it's just fucking awesome. Vocally expect gruff shouts with some raspy singing at times, all of which is forceful, and the singing actually sounds fucking great. Fuck, just check out "Repeat Process" - catchy, yet brutal. Fucking perfect. You don't hear riffs that heavy and energetic in this genre very often... and note that it's totally interesting playing, there are no derivative dual guitar harmonies, tremolo picking riffs, or any of that junk. "Something Terrible" is another surefire winner. In my book any song that makes me want to immediately start smashing faces is a keeper. There are also some blazing solos, which add to the tracks, but the actual songwriting itself is the real key here. Overall this really is a true blend of hardcore and metal that comes off as a cohesive, powerful whole: Nine tracks, 25 minutes, tight performances, a solid recording, no bullshit. Speaking of the recording, I don't think I'd touch it. The bass is decipherable and defined, the guitar tone is thick and well textured, I can live with the drums, there are no gaps in the mix, etc. Very fucking nice... and clear, too. The layout keeps it pretty simple with one band photo, lyrics, and some nice artwork that sort of combines a painterly approach with tattoo styled illustrations and an Asian sort of theme. It comes as little surprise that the lyrics are bitter and pull no punches: "I had faith that I was loved by you, But it has filtered through, Seeping through my hands, a fistful of shit, Left with no more than a glimpse of what you have become..." This is an awesome record. I'm totally blown away by how much this band has progressed since their last disc. Do not write this off just because you weren't into their previous work, because this is in a whole different league. I back this 100% for fans of this particular niche and those close to it. Expect these cats to start getting namedropped all over the place within the next few months. Excellent. (8/10)
Running time - 25:38, Tracks: 9
[Notable tracks: Time Bomb, Repeat Process, Something Terrible, Never Surrender Virtue (No Desit Virtus)]
Deathwish Inc. - http://www.deathwishinc.com

This review has been displayed 3123 times.