Remorseless - Demo 2006
It’s a minor miracle that I’m writing about this demo. I picked it up at an Animosity show in SF earlier this year. The CD was free off a spindle, with no sleeve or case. All it said was “Remorseless Demo 2006.” No track names, no contact info, not the best first impression.
I listened to it, though, and was intrigued enough to search on Google and MySpace for more info – no dice. Some months later, I discovered the band finally got a MySpace. Usually bands get the MySpace first, then the fancy T-shirts, and then maybe some actual music. So it’s good the band has a substantive demo to begin with, but, damn, could it have marketed itself any less?
1. Needs2. Function Denied3. Closer to a Casket4. When Time Becomes a Loop
All that aside, this is a solid slab of deathcore, Bay Area-style. Think Animosity, Antagony, the first All Shall Perish record. Obvious influences include Dying Fetus and Cannibal Corpse, especially the pick squeals of the latter. The riffs aren’t that technical, but they sound that way due to creative drumming that constantly varies the beats underneath. I wouldn’t have minded some solos for textural interest, but the focus is on strong riffs, and that’s just fine. The vocals are functional, ranging from midrange shrieks to death growls. Only once does the band slip, with some Swedish riffs and clean singing that the band should never, ever do again. It’s too good with the brutal stuff to be messing with that shit. These songs are tight, concise, and flow with surprising maturity. I hope this band takes some professional initiative, as it certainly has the musical goods.
