Korpse - Korpse - 2013 Morbid Generation Records

A wall of fuzzy guitars and groovy slams surrounding you from every angle.  Deep, steadily pulsing gutturals scarcely interrupted by the occasional high shriek.  Blastbeats acting as serving platters for juicy build-ups to the main course; beefy slams.  Fist there was Devourment.  Then there was Sick.  Now we have Korpse.  Founded by Drummer Marten van Kruijssen (Houwitser, ex-Dictated) just this year, these four Dutchmen are already proving themselves to be a nasty force to be reckoned with in the realm of Slam.  
The band's vocalist, Sven (Visionary 666, ex-Dictated) has some very disgusting, phlegm filled gutturals that fit the groove very well.  Guitarist, Bart (I Die You're Dead, ex-Divine Sins) is just really, really good at slamming you to bits and peices, but with finesse; He seems to sort of 'round off' his riffs, making them almost flow together as one.  Last we've got the bassist.  Mart Wijnholds (Dr Doom) definetly makes himself known on the lower end.  He is the reason this debut feels more like a release of seasoned slammers.  Everything is just so warm and fuzzy!

If the mention of bands like Devourment and Sick didn't inform you of what Korpse is all about, then you need to be educated.  No but really, think head bobbing groovy goodness, causing you to hum along to the pinch harmonic peppered riffs that hardly prepare you for the face bashing that ensues.  The formula of every track on here is of that ilk.  If you must to check one song out to see what I am getting at, let it be "More Funerals To Come."  This debut is twenty-three minutes long and absolutely flies by.  The production is impressively warm but not over done, everything seems mixed in very well and the bass guitar is superb, heavy, and thick.  Korpse is fun and addictive, pick this one up physically when it is released, in the meantime, purchase it digitally HERE.

KORPSE
MORBID GENERATION RECORDS

Discreate - Contingent Development of Inanimate Modifications - 2011 Demo - Viceral Vomit Records

This demo is a very strong one from another Filipino group, Discreate.  Let's dive right in.

“Thought Form Perverted” starts by blasting your face off and then Michael Carlos (guitar) and Em Larzano (drums) spend the rest of the song proving they can write creatively and have played together for a while.  At first I didn’t think I would like this track.  It seemed so far from what I was expecting.  Experimental.  I actually like this a lot!   The guitar tone is raw, nothing is over produced, and this track serves as a nice foreshadowing promise to great songwriting.   I can’t wait to see how the vocalist will fit in with this band but I am pleased to hear an entire instrumental track.

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EDIT: I wrote the above portion of this review before receiving the actual demo, on which ‘Thought Form Perverted’ had been re-named ‘Thoughtforms’ and did in fact contain vocals.  It is also a live version on the demo.   If I had never listened to the first, instrumental version, I probably wouldn’t like this song at all.   I am glad I did though because now I know that once this track is actually tracked and rerecorded, or possibly recorded live better, it will be great.  I think that Miko did a great job with the vocals on the demo track, I only wish everything could be heard and parts determined.   All that being said, it is still better than most demo tracks from bands trying to be technical on their first demo.

“Multiple Stabwounds” has good vocals and drumming over strange guitar riffs.   I am loving the creative flow between all three instruments here.   Yes, the guttural voice is an instrument; one that is not very often utilized to it’s fullest potential.   Miko Pareja, however, sounds well on his way.   For a 3 piece and no bass, this sounds huge!   The guitar solo is literally all over the place on this track but always starts and ends in a good spot.   Guitar and drums move together and are very tight. There is a main ‘chorus’ riff that is returned to a few times and it kind of holds everything else together.   All three members prove in this single song that they are all very talented at what they do.   If I were going to be picky, which I have to be, I would say that this song needed more structure.   It does, however, contain the kind of songwriting you would expect on a bands first demo.  I really hope that Discreate stays a three piece.   They are managing to get a unique sound and their songwriting is already quite creative and distinct.   If anything, they overdid some things here.   The solos on "Multiple Stabwounds" got to be a little much and at certain points throughout the demo things just felt a little rushed.  Their riffs are weird and creative enough to stand alone without too many technical fills.



"The Pleasure of Eternal Killing" starts with a sort of bouncy, simple riff that made me smile.  Awesome drums here as well.  Then I was thrown right into a hectic spiral full of quick riffs and deep gutturals steadily marching forth until the song slows down to an almost totally unstructured break (in a good way) and then builds back up again.  I am having some trouble describing this sound.  There are a lot of interesting/awesome tones and sounds coming from these three dudes, so buy this demo and listen closely!

Very happy to read this quote from the band: "we are amateur musicians with complicated passion for continuous learning”

Discreate pushes the boundaries of brutal death metal and obviously plan on continuing to do just that. I am very excited for more from this band!

Discreate is currently working on a full-length debut for 2013.

VICERAL VOMIT RECORDS