So, do you like death metal? Further, do you like the jazz tinged technical style of death metal inspired by Atheist et al? Do you like your death metal on the groovier and slower side? Well, I do too, and that means we will both be enjoying Leprosy of Subconscious for some time to come, because these clamhuffers get it all fucking right. Here is a band who can create compositions that make frantic sense, like the best spazzcore acts, yet never cross the line into utter insanity, always keeping their songs clamped to the spirit of real death metal. In fact this band is as likely to get your head banging as it is to get your brain racing. And that is musical genius, motherfuckers.
Fans of acts like Immolation get all the nods they need, as the grooves and sick funky death riffing is always the main focus of each song. But for those who need a tad more contemporary brutality and technicality, the band adds just enough doses of off kilter rhythms and pummeling tempos to keep the record from becoming another throwback homage. And for those who pine for serious musicianship and the odd breather from the onslaught, you get some interluding jazzplay. Not so much it becomes a joke or leaves you feeling like you just heard three bands playing three different sets. Just a taste. Always the main focus is on diseased riffing. These guys know their death metal, and this record would compliment a lengthy road trip featuring Wormed, latter day Death and Cynic.
Which is the kind of lengthy road trip I would be going on…
The musicianship is precise and exciting. The band is tight and plays with fire, something that can get lost when the technicality quotient is raised. The singer will please death metal purists, having a rasp instead of pig grunts or octivided roars. The production is fantastic as well, the guitars having the kind of moist and massive tone you want from death metal bands. The drums have a good, livish sound without becoming too noisy.
The bottom line is that this record does everything it wants to do correctly. Not a misstep. Yes, occasionally it does seem slightly overdone, overcontrolled, but the dirty riffing gets it back on track every time. Well balanced, well considered and generally well done, this is a must have for anyone who wants to claim death metal fanship.
