Scorching Tomb : "Ossuary"

 

It's a strong year for Canada. This band continues the country's new tradition of musical exportation. Fans of death metal who are regular readers here will attest to the fact that I am picky when it comes to the genre. Just having a crushing guitar tone and brutal riffs is not enough for me. I need groove and dynamics. These guys bring it in a way some might think of as old school. But what you are really saying when you say old school is a time when bands cared about writing songs more than just unlocking a sound. These guys are obsessed with speed and cramming in as many solos as they can, so they let the riffs simmer for a bit. 

Devin Swank guests on the second song, but his growl is mixed in a way that you can hear it, but it does not stand out, so we will jsut wait for his band to drop their album. The growls used by this band are employed like Frozen Soul, where they are very intentional and punch with purpose rather than being an obligatory afterthought. Perhaps not as articulated as Frozen Soul, as the lyrics do not pop out, unless I am looking at the song titles, I could not tell you what these songs are about. The chug themselves into a more expected fury for "Diminished to Ashes" that finds the drummer using less restraint and unleashing a hammering on your ears. In this way, they sometimes bring Deicide to mind. 

"Sanctum of Bones" grinds into your head with more purpose even when the pace builds to a thrashing assault. The fact that the bass sits further up in the mix helps the overall sound, giving a heavier, denser feel. "Sentenced to Rot' finds a balance of intensity with hooky purpose, once they lock into the refrain. It took a couple of listens to really click with me. The tempo picks up more for "Feel the Blade."  It's effective, but at this point in the album, they could stand to paint the songs with some different sonic colors, as the guitar tones are all starting to race together thanks to the rapid drummer.  But on "Bloodlust Sacrifice," they do not relent in any regard until locking into a moshy groove midway in. 

The last song also finds itself at the intersection of thrash and death metal, using the same sharp guitar tone to keep up their impressive chuggathon. Sonically, everything is painted in the same aggressive shade of red, but they do not go for a full frontal assault and use nuance to craft their riffs. They wisely place their punches for maximum impact and show they care about writing songs. I will give this album a 9 and see how it grows on me. Fans of hooky death metal should take note when this album drops on October 24th on Time to Kill Records. 

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