originally written by Jim Brandon
Echidna is a band you need to know about. This goes out to fans, other reviewers, major metal labels, fanzines, all of you. To my knowledge (and yes I did some fucking research) this 5-piece is unsigned for the moment, but if I was running a label, I’d be snapping my ankles running to sign them. I wouldn’t say the music on This Suffering demo is stunningly original, but holy fuck is it cool, and when executed with such a vibrant stance, Echidna make classic ideas sound somewhat fresh in a way.
With a harsh vocal attack slightly similar to that of Darren Travis, Rob Dukes, and latter-day Chuck Schuldiner, along with a roundabout musical likeness to the old-school of Bay Area thrash, Echidna throw down four pieces of mature, immaculately performed riff-frenzied metal which not only has a hell of a loud bark, but a nasty bite as well as a grip that doesn’t let go. I wanted to listen to this all day, the flow and structure of the material here is addictive as hell. Even though Echidna reach into reserves of the most ballistic Exodus, Nuclear Assault, and (drum-wise) Fear Factory influence, the band establishes their own individual identity throughout each of these four songs. The musicianship is not only superb, but also seething with personality and gumption, unafraid to take the initiative and throw in something a little exotic and subtle into the crunchfest.
The smooth Middle-Eastern flow of “Balance Preservation” brought back memories of Artillery’s criminally overlooked By Inheritance album, most notably when the minimal yet sophisticated lead work kicks in around the 2:40 mark, and returns briefly to close the track hauntingly. Beautiful stuff. The balance of this demo is perfect, the production sounds professional as hell, the guitar tones, the vocal patterns, all of it is prime choice macaroni. Give me a fork so I can dig in, because the depth and substance of the material presented here for consumption is too good to pass up without wanting to overindulge. None of the songs are too extravagant even when the tempo and riffs change up, and I get a strong sense that the band spent a good amount of time in formulating these ideas and perfecting the patterns into something very easy on the ears without dumbing-down, or saturating the process.
Echidna need to be exposed to a wider audience, because I get the same feeling from this demo as I got the first time I heard Heathen and couldn’t figure out why they weren’t huge. Any smart label wouldn’t make the mistake of passing these guys by if this demo drops on their desk. This Suffering is riveting thrash metal of the classiest order, and if I’m not listening to their debut album from Century Media, Nuclear Blast, The End or another respectable label within a year’s time, I’d be very, very surprised, and disappointed. I want to hear more, and I want you to hear it as well. Someone needs to sign them and get this show on the road.
