ECTOVOID : "In Unreality's Coffin"

The most important question we are going to ask here is not can these guys can play their instruments, but what sets them apart from other death metal bands? What are they doing that is original here? They race around with a punk energy infused into their gritty take on death metal. I appreciate that their influences go back to the more 80s-rooted era of death metal, where the emphasis was on songwriting. The second song gets more mired into rapid fire aggressive riffing, which might be the esscence of death metal, but it does not mean to follow the same path so closely, it's not until the doomier riff that things break up a bit. 

"Intrusive Illusions' displays that the vocals are intentional and have purpose, so unlike many death metal band's they are not just another layer of obligatory sound. However, the overall songwriting is not breaking any new ground either. "Formless Seeking Form" took another listener for me to really pay attention to it. It does not blast off with furious speed, so you would think that might hook me in more, but some of the songs are starting to sound the same. There are some cooler riffs once "Irradated Self" finds its footing, which brings a hookier thrash feel.

The title track does little to stand out and finds things beginning to feel like the creative gas tank is being tapped out, as you are hearing a barrage of riffs that feel recycled. "Erroneous Birth" finds the vocals as the only element that has focus aside from the resolution of a few chord progressions. They are onto something with the more melodic touches of " It is Without Shape" that sets them apart more, and is something I wish this album leaned more into. The last song is the longest, and they slow things down to a more death doom-like riff. It progresses into some hookier riffs that bring Morbid Angel to mind. I will give this album an 8.5; it is more memorable than most death metal, but doesn't do anything that different either. It's being released on Everlasting Spew.

pst13