Immaculate Fatality-Demo
(Self-Released, 2008)

With the ridiculous amount of bands around right now it seems like bands at the demo level might get overlooked. But in a case like Immaculate Fatality the demo is just too damn good to be overlooked. With a monstrously heavy yet melodic sound this California based band has a sound that could be likened to a cross between The Red Chord and The Black Dahlia Murder. Rhythmic crunch and Swedish styled guitar runs explode in a sound that is modern yet still has enough blasting to please fans of straight forward death metal along with the more modern metal fan.

The riffing mixes rapid fire tremolo picking with chunky riffs and flairs of melody. The songs are energetic no matter the tempo and when the speed increases the band really flies by the seat of their pants. Some bands manage to be fast but not really aggressive. This is very fast but keeps the aggressive edge metal is known for. A song like Unholy Metamorphosis is a bit shorter but kicks you in the face for the entire song. The band does an excellent job of keeping the songs interesting while keeping the songs short and to the point. Obviously these arent grindcore songs, but the band keeps things around the 3 to 4 minute mark which really allows the energy to stay high.

The melodic side of the band comes out in both the main riffs themselves as well as the guitar solos. Sweep picking is used a great deal in the leads and it serves as an excellent contrast to the lighting quick riffs. The songs also manage to be very memorable and actually hit with a lot more staying power than some of the more well known bands playing a similar style. This is a band that realizes you need some substance with your speed and it really makes a big difference.

It's with little hesitation that I can say Immaculate Fatality is a band that certainly has a bright future. This is a no holds barred fusion of brutality and melody that has enough energy and memorable riffs to leave a lasting impression long after the final notes are pounded into your ears. This is definitely a band to watch out for.

http://www.myspace.com/immaculatefatality

Denounce-Deep Wood, Shallow Grave
(Self-Released, 2008)

Denounce may be one of the best kept secrets the metal underground is hiding right now. With a professional sound and chops to spare, this UK based band plays a blistering form of metal based on rapid fire riffs with a melodic edge. The easiest way to describe the band would be a cross between thrash and Swedish death metal. It's a perfect combination of American heaviness and Swedish finesse making Denounce one of the best bands playing this style right now.

While very melodic, the songwriting is still very intense. The riffs hit with a lot of power and the band is quite fast. The vast majority of the album sails by at a thrash tempo and the use of the blast beat is sparse but very effective. The band slows things down for more rhythmic sections at times, but stays away from using typical breakdown riffs. This may appeal to fans of the metalcore genre, but this really has nothing in common with the genre at all aside from some of the melody perhaps. The vocals snarl and rasp and add a venomous layer to an already volatile mixture. If you like your metal energetic and quick, Denounce more than delivers.

While this genre may be filled with bands not quite up to snuff musically, this band is made up of musicians who more than know their way around their instruments. It boggles my mind when you discover a band this good and they aren't on a label yet bands who play similar music but of lesser quality are signed to some of the biggest labels there are for this type of music. This is some of the tightest and well written music of this style that I have heard in a long time. This is right up their with the early Soilwork albums if you ask me.

With a powerful production and a tough as nails sound Denounce is a band poised to take the metal world by storm. Record labels take note as this is a band that is playing interesting yet fast metal sure to please fans of American metal and Swedish death metal alike. If you like Soilwork, The Black Dahlia Murder or possibly even Heartwork era Carcass this is definitely a band you will want to check out.

http://www.myspace.com/denounce

Splattercraft-Promo 08
(Self-released, 2008)

Splattercraft are possibly the best Razorback Records styled band that isn't in fact signed to the label. With a razor sharp approach that draws equally from thrash as it does old school death metal, Splattercraft have a charging approach built on rhythmic riffs, tremolo picked madness and 80's thrash styled riffs. If you mixed Descanting the Insalubrious era Carcass with 80's thrash you'd start to have an idea of what to expect from this very heavy yet very catchy metal band.

What really stands out about Splattercraft is the fact that the songs are just ridiculously catchy. I wouldn't say the riffing was over simplified either. There are still some busy moments to go with the more straight forward power chord moments yet no matter what the band is playing the riffs are catchy and really stick with you. There are also some really cool melodic solos littered throughout the three songs here which is probably where I hear the Carcass influence creeping into the music the most.

The vocals switch between an extremely guttural roar and a high pitched voice. The guttural voice is used the most and it is an extremely powerful sound with surprising clarity. While it is an approach that some might consider typical of the genre, it fits the music perfectly and the vocal patterns are just as catchy as the music. Forget about the gurgled beyond recognition vocals, this shows that vocals can be extremely guttural but still very powerful and clear.

Along with Ex-Dementia, Splattercraft are one of the best bands around right now playing thrash inspired old school death metal. There is no one single aspect of these three songs that I would change and I can guarantee you that when this band releases a full length album my neck will be mangled beyond repair. If you are a fan of Razorback Records or old school death metal in general, Splattercraft should be considered mandatory listening.

http://www.myspace.com/splattercraft