Hacked Up - Interview with Andrew Blower

CAN YOU START BY STATING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ROLE IN THE BAND?

I'm Andrew Blower I do all the music writing and vocals :)

HOW DID THE BAND START?

I've been writing slam for the past 10 years on and off.  I had a old project called axed up but changed the name to hacked up for this project .

COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT BEFORE PRESSING PLAY ON "THE RAWEST FORM OF COMBAT"?

The rarest form of combat will be 4 tracks of pure slamming brutal death \m/ 

I'm super picky when it comes to slam and this project is basically stuff I'd listen to myself .

JUST FROM LISTENING TO "DEFORMED WARSLAVE MONSTROSITY" I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO DIG THE RAW, STRIPPED DOWN ASPECT TO THE SONG STRUCTURE.  AND THESE VOCALS!  HEAVY CEPHALOTRIPSY VIBES!  ONE OF YOUR INFLUENCES?  CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE ON SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES? 

Dude Cephalotripsy are one of my favourite bands it's a honour you would say it gives you cephalo vibes . I got a Cephalotripsy tattoo on my stomach I love them that much hahahah . Other inspirations are Gorevent and Myocardial Infarction.  I have played guitar and drums since I was 11 years old .

I'M LOVING THE LOGO AND THE ARTWORK!  WHO DID THOSE?

It was my tattoo artist that did my logo and artwork . I'm super happy with the logo it's exactly what I wanted . Hit her up on Instagram for logo designs  @megtattoos .

WILL THERE BE LYRICS POSTED ANYWHERE WITH THE EP, OR IN THE CD BOOKLET?

WHAT SORT OF THINGS DO YOU WRITE ABOUT?

Planning on doing cds soon and there will be lyrics . I write about war and torture methods from the old days . Sword and shield combat . I'm very inspired by berserk and dark souls franchise I'm a huge nerd for that stuff so I wanted to do  that as my concept .

HOW OLD ARE YOU?  BEEN IN ANY BANDS PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE?

I'm currently 30 years old . Back in like 2011 2012 i was in a few deathcore bands lmao got to play with martyr defiled which was sick as back then I loved them.

HOW DID YOU LAND ON THE CLASSIC NAME "HACKED UP"?

Like I said before had a old project called axed up but I changed to hacked up :) just nice and short and catchy. There's too many over complicated names now days and I wanted something short and sweet  that rolls of the tongue. Plus I suck at spelling hahaha

ANY PLANS FOR PLAYING SHOWS IN THE FUTURE?

100 percent want to do shows at the minute I've got my best mate who wants to do guitar just need to sort out a sick drummer so I can do just vocals \m/ if not I'll have to do a 357 homicide on the ting hahaha

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR READERS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY AT ALL?

Next release will be a full 8 track album , most of it is already written . If we get enough support I will do merch I would love that . I collect slam merch so it means alot to me . Keep it slam \m/ Thanks for the interest and the interview it means a lot to me <3

The EP drops February 9th!  

Check it out HERE

Foul Deformity - Disgust - 2024 - Inspired by a series of horrific real life events.

It was so refreshing to stumble onto this Brutal Death Metal group out of Las Vegas!  A three piece who describe their sound as a sonic force with elements from Old School Death Metal, Grindcore, Slamming Brutal Death Metal, Black Metal, Groove, and a hint of Jazz!  What a mouthful!  After multiple listens, I do think "Disgust" proves them correct!  

"Disgust" is only an EP, and is already guaranteed to end up in my best-of-the-year list for 2024. This will be hard to top.

The production on this, first of all, is just perfect.  Everything perfectly sitting in its own pocket in the mix.  Every instrument it still raw yet feels in your face with its own patterns and intricacies.  The vocals are some of my favorite I've ever heard; a blend of styles and techniques that may be hard to pick up on at first, but the subtlety IS master precision. The songwriting throughout is incredible, with many catchy parts and tempo changes.  The instruments, vocals included, seem to play off of each other for an amazing onslaught of creative brutality that keeps you guessing.

Alex Udar is in charge of percussion, and goes crazy with so many fills and techniques.  He grew up in Romania and started playing drums in 2009.  He has banged the drums for Sinful Serpent, Abominable Putridity, Submerged, to name a few.

On Guitar and Bass we have Bruno Macias, playing guitar since 2004 in bands like Guttural Secrete, Cerebral Incubation, and Abominable Putridity.  Also must be a fan of a lot of different styles to be writing and playing like this!

Last but not least we have these crazy fucking vocals!  Grunts and gurgles and predators all sound amazing on each track!  Nick Papageorgio has almost 20 years at working on his craft, and it shows.  The delicate enunciation while still keeping it so guttural can be witnessed when following along with the lyrics.  Check out lyric video for "(Null) Ubiquitous" below.  It features Jeremiah Jensen (Guttural Secrete).  I can't tell if the whole track is him or not, but it is still a prime example of the quality of talent on this release.

Speaking of lyrics, holy shit.  I love how dark yet beautifully written these are.  Feels like a radio-active spawning of a disgusting new life.  Extremely descriptive and gross and actually enunciated rather well throughout.  The cover art, which seems to be a hideous collage, compliments the music and the soundscapes/samples nicely.

I also have to give it up to the producer and mixer/masterer working behind the board here.  I can't find much about them, but damn this is nice.

Recorded by Randall James Thompson

Mastered by Rylie Ellen Wechta

With just 2 demos coming before this, I cannot wait for more from this 4 year old beast of a band!!!!

Check out all releases from Foul Deformity HERE

Postcoital Ulceration - Continuation of Defective Existence After Multiple Ruinous Collapses - 2014 - Ghastly Music/Amputated Vein

I am so happy to re-visit this album, because it now looks like the band will have another full length out this year!!  Postcoital Ulceration in the Serbian-slamming-brutal-techdeath brain-child of Andrey Alogrin.  I have tried to reach out to him and find any more info, and I cannot!   A post on the band's facebook page from October of 2023 reads:

"We have been reborn with a new lineup and are filled with new strength. Therefore, we would like to introduce you to our new logo."

With the history of little-to-no movement from the band online, no updates, and no replies this news leaves me excited but honestly not that hopeful.  At any rate, I am pleased that the news reminded me of their full-length album!

This is an album that gets better and better over the years.  I hear new details and new things I like with each listen; the intricacies in the drum patterns, the variation in vocals, the unrelenting heaviness!

Even after re-familiarizing myself with it and then waiting about a week, I turned it on and it felt heavier yet again.  From researching the very limited info online about this project, I believe Andrey wrote and played all instrumental parts, and vocals were done by Vitaly Chumakov (Disfigurement of Flesh).

They really went all out with the artwork (Remy Cooper - Headsplit Design), Production (TsunTsun), and song titles and lyrics.

Check out their track "Parasitic Defilement" below, here are the lyrics.

Devastated megalopolis
Keeps few survivors inside
They bodies are wounded
Their minds are enslaved
The parasitic effect
Has modified the nerve system
Cannibalism and copulation are the new religion

Flesh of the flesh

Crawling spawns
The new stage of human's evolution
Hyper-active instincts
Helps them to adapt
The new environment

Famine and depravity
Rule the mindless human flock

If anyone reading this know how to reach Postcoital Ulceration, have them shoot me an email!  cerebralreviewment@gmail.com

Desecation - Left To The Trogs - 2024

 Desecation first caught my attention for being so young while still pumping out such a mature sounding brutal death EP two years ago with self-titled "Desecation", which I briefly talked about HERE.

Since then, just following them on social media and their youtube presence, it is clear that they are young but taking this very serious and being themselves, not trying to change anything about what they bring to the table.  Being original with their sound.  

Also, they are surrounded by and playing shows with legends like Cephalotripsy, Disgorge, Vulnificus, Condemned and many more.

When they started to give previews and glimpses of this new album, I was beyond pumped, and now I get to sit down and listen.

Album artwork by legendary Jon Zig

"Left To The Trogs" opens with a disturbing sample that I recognized from a long time ago.  From a scene that definitely stays with you if you ever saw it.  It is from a Kurt Russell movie about 10 years ago, called "Bone Tomahawk."  A scene in which a man is help down and scalped and then held upside down and hawked in two.  It's just lovely! Check the scene out HERE.

The audio from this scene perfectly sets the tone for the next 20 minutes.  An unforgiving onslaught of raw, original BDM with each element of the music getting its proper showcase.  Production is clear yet perfectly raw. 

Guitars are a delightful mix of fuzzy and crunchy, musicianship is tight and steadily marching to and from heavy slams and catchy riffs.  The riffs seem slightly more technical here than on "Desecation".  Excited to watch how this young band keeps growing and progressing.    

Vocals throughout this album are diverse.  Nasty gargling gutturals with the occasional pig squealing and sometimes your basic death growl.  Every method done with confidence and a gravely delivery that sounds well-honed.   Drummer is crazy, detailed fills with a lot going on under the surface.

I have been paying attention to Desecation since I first found them.  A decent amount of live footage is already on youtube and they have that "thing."  They just feel like the complete package.  Hoping to catch them live soon.  Check out a video of the band performing at Angel Ochoa's (Cephalotripsy) Birthday party:

Most of their live videos show three members, and they are listed as a 3-piece band, but I believe this video is their full band line-up:

Todd Novoa - Guitars

Marc Novoa - Guitars, Vocals

Alex Sisko - Vocals

Nate Gonzalez - Drums, Vocals

Sam Little - Bass

Overall, I am LOVING this new offering from this young, still up-and-coming California band!

Will be spinning this allllll day!!

"Left To The Trogs" will be released January 23rd, 2024 via BrutalMind.

Check out "Inducing Cognitive Paralysis" from the album HERE

Celestial Bifurcation - Mephistophelian Dimension - DEMO 2023

 

Jumping right back into technical BDM with the slams to boot, Celestial Bifurcation is a two-piece out of Washington that is one of the recent signings of New Standard Elite, a record label that is quickly becoming THE home of new up-and-coming brutal slammy death metal.

The band's name roughly translates to being ripped in two in outer space.  This is actually a good description of the vibe here.  Please give this multiple listens, there is so much nuance and detail that these two dudes bring to the table, and it really excites me for a full-length release.

Not long after this demo, they put out a single through Inherited Production.

"Insufferable Telekinetic Disimpaction" boasts tighter playing from both musicians, a similar production value, and is a 3-minute foreshadowing of technical grooviness to come. Listen below:

Celestial Bifurcation

Max VanOver - Drums

Ryan Stern - Vocals, Bass, Guitar

Cerebral Incubation - Fermented Cranial Inebriating Fluids - EP 2021

 

It’s been awhile since Cerebral Incubation blessed us with some self-proclaimed “OG Caveman slam”.  While the term always seemed to fit, it is really driven home on this 13 minute, 5 song EP. Complete with a music video that features a caveman-esque bigfoot drinking, dancing, and taking shrooms with the whole band before slaughtering them all and drunkenly stumbling back into the woods. 

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Said video is for "Fermented Cranial Inebriating Fluids," the the title-track of the EP, which also features Angel Ochoa (Cephalotripsy, older Condemned) with some crazy guest vocals. The end of the song has vocalist Andrew Lomastro AND Angel Ochoa grunting and gurgling simultaneously for a disgusting dual-onslaught of the most brutal sort. 

Released via Fat Tub Of Lard / Brutal Mind

Cerebral Incubation have always been mixed heaviness, groove, and tight musicianship with a dark humor that fits just right.  From the artwork of their projects, the samples in the tracks, the song titles, right down to the font they choose on the covers.  It all makes me giggle, while still being incredibly groovy.

The question remains, are they working on more for us?!  One can dream......

Cerebral Reviewment update

It has been a long while since Cerebral Reviewment has been able to be active in the BDM scene in any form.  Upon returning, a lot has changed, some has stayed the same, and overall the scene has grown immensely!  I am very excited to be back, and start listening again and see what is happening in the scene.

Please feel free to reach out to send me your favorite releases of the last few years, up and coming stuff, or just say hello!  Comment on this post, DM the instagram or facebook, or email CR at

 CEREBRALREVIEWMENT@YAHOO.COM

Some upcoming releases that I am already super pumped about include new stuff from Cephalotripsy, Desecation, Defeated Sanity, Liturgy, Brodequin, Sickening (Italy), and I am sure many many more!

-Cerebral Reviewment

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Desecation - Desecation EP 2022

 From this young and up-and-coming death metal group we have a stunning 5-song EP that is full of catchy grooves, tempo changes, and viscous slams, all wrapped up in a nice package of bludgeoning, intense, blasting, and addicting death/slam/old school death metal.

Now when I say young, I mean young!  

The band is made up of 5 friends growing up together in San Diego and writing and playing shows, going to school, and just having fun!

The ages of the members spans from 14-20 years old!  For a group of such young kids to have this kind of sound is what stands out to me!  It is a refreshing mix of older Death Metal and the newer breakdowns and slams, but with perfectly raw production!

Todd Novoa - Guitars

Marc Novoa - Guitars, Vocals

Alex Sisko - Vocals

Nate Gonzalez - Drums, Vocals

Sam Little - Bass

Band: Desecation

Album: Desecation Type: EP Released: January 23, 2022 Genre: Brutal Death Metal Country: United States (Diego, California) Tracklist: 01. Psychopathic Impalement 02. Infested With Gelatinous Gangrene 03. Desiccated Christ 04. Gaffed And Dismembered 05. Dripping Bile

I am loving this whole EP, it feels raw and unique and I am impressed with these kids' patience and song writing! Give it a listen! Reminds me of if old Suffocation and Devourment had a baby!

PLEASE go check this band out!

I cannot wait to see what they do next!!!!

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Ecchymosis Interview - 2017

Hello and thank you for taking the time to talk with Cerebral Reviewment!

Wasumit : Hello Cerebral Reviewment, and everyone! My pleasure to be interviewed by you!

Polwach : Hey there! 

Can you start by stating who you are and your role in the band?

Wasumit : I’m Wasumit, bassist. And of course the latest member of the band.

Polwach : Polwach, drummer. Anal.

How long has each band member been doing their particular craft? 

Wasumit : Good question, trying to see how professional we are or what? Just kidding bro, OK, let’s start with me first. I have been playing bass for around 12 years now, I played normal stuff at first, and became a BDM bass player in 2008 (since I joined Intricated, another local band) and the bass humiliation way started from there. Twish can also play bass, as a guitarist he started when he was in high-school.

Polwach : I started doing drums when I was like 14, so around 14 years ago. I just realized I’ve spent the half of my life playing kits. Can’t remember when I started playing blastbeats tho. Maybe like 12 years ago or so…

Can you tell us about the history of Ecchymosis?  I know the band is still young, but have you had to endure any line-up changes?

Polwach : I formed Ecchymosis in January 2014 with Weerasak (vocalist) as he asked me if I was interested to play some sloppy and shitty BDM.  In search for a guitarist, we found Twish (already in the same goregrind same band as Polwach, Cystgurgle) around October that year. We released a demo in the same year. In 2015 we recorded a promo demo. Thanks to Peter (Dissevered) for sending the promo track to Daniel (New Standard Elite), we then got signed to the label in September 2015. We played without bass for some time until we got Wasumit as the bassist of the band in November 2016.

What are the main differences between the first two demos and the full length?  Obviously, production values change and budgets change, but you always stuck to a pretty raw approach, which we true fans appreciate.  What was the mindset like, after signing to New Standard Elite, as far as having access to new production/recording techniques and options?

Polwach : Actually the first demo is different from the second demo as well. Everything you hear in the first demo is improvisational. We didn’t write those songs. Unlike the second demo, we wrote the song prior to the recording session. The songs on both demos only consist of drums, 1 line guitar, and vocals. No bass at all. In the full-length we got more “professional” (eh…don’t wanna use that word haha), recording drums, guitars, vocals, and of course bass, but as you said, we have been keeping it raw all the time. Raw sound is surely our main focus. I’d say that the mindset has been constant. Raw and sloppy approach.

What are your lyrics about?  What is the writing process for new songs like?

Disgusting shit hahah. Morbid sexual intercourses with rotten corpses. Shit like that. We don’t want to get different lyrically. Just want to keep the gory concept that brutal death metal delivers. For all the previous songs we wrote our songs in the rehearsal room. First I came up with drum patterns or Twish came up with guitar patterns, then Weerasak came up with vocal patterns, then I and Weerasak came up with lyrics. The new songs will feature our new bassist Wasumit. They will be written in the same way the old songs were in, the only change is that Wasumit will also throw in ideas for guitar patterns as well. Simple process huh?

 

Walk me through a day in the life of Ecchymosis.

Getting up, drinking beer, jamming shit. That pretty much sums it up.

How is the scene in Bangkok currently?

Wasumit : Pretty good, not big but very strong, been like this for years. Fans are always supportive, every time we have shows they come, not many but very quality audiences. Every overseas band that came to play here they said like “Man, Fans here are insane, haha”. We also start to have a few new bands from the younger generation as well, and they are good. Love to see them getting stronger and stronger. 

Polwach : Man, love being in it.

Can you give fans one lesser-known band, out of Bangkok, that you would suggest checking out?

Wasumit : Sorry can’t pick only one, can I suggest more? Coz there is a lot of good bands from Bangkok, Thailand such as, Imbrued Blemishment, A Good Day For Killing (they are on hold now), Psychopathy, Tortured Animals, Pathological Sadism, Affective Psychosis and of course, my another band, Intricated XD Check them out !

How much do you like beer?

Wasumit : Fucking lots! Me and Polwach are really into craft beer, Weerasak joined in recently. IPA is our fav, really dig it. Our passion about craft beer is phenomenal, Twish is not quite a beer maniac but he can drink. We always try to have a mini party with the band members, all about beer of course!

Polwach : You can throw good beer in my funeral. I will rot in it.

How does the band feel about President Donald Trump?

Wasumit : He looks like Donald Dumb instead of Donald Trump, that’s it and not any more comments. Please don’t get us involved politics haha XD

Any last words to your fans?

Wasumit : Only one word but from the deepest bottom of our hearts ! THANK YOU for all the supports and spreading the word about us! YOU GUYS RULE AS FUCK!!

Polwach : Thank you so much for digging us. Your support is beyond the best! Guys our gratitude can’t be described in words. Thank you thank you thank you very much. Our appreciation also goes to Daniel Osborn and New Standard Elite for everything you’ve done for us. By the way dude I checked out your blog, fucking awesome shit! Really detailed and interesting reviewing contents. Unlike some idiot in the scene whom I think you can guess. ;) Thank you for conducting the interview with us. Goes greatly appreciated! Cheers!!!!!

Ecchymosis - Aberrant Amusement in Cadaveric Vomitplay - 2016 - New Standard Elite

Ecchymosis, a four-piece out of Bangkok, Thailand, is churning out some raw and exciting Brutal Death Metal that true fans should not miss.
Formed in 2014, the band signed to New Standard Elite in September of 2015.
Now, in early 2017, we've heard two short demos, and have been blessed with this full-length.
'Aberrant Amusement' is self-proclaimed, sloppy, brutal death that is filthy, groovy, and perfectly simplistic when it needs to be.
The ping of the snare definitely stands out even more than this genre usually merits. You'll love it or hate it. For me, I absolutely love it.  The way the guitars are mixed in could be more in the forefront. They just seem so thin. I'm being picky though, after hundreds of listens, it definitely does not detract from the over-all feel of the album.
Drums are precise and wonderfully punctuated by high-hats and blasts.  Vocals are simple, but work surprisingly well, considering their lack of dynamic.  Straight-forward, nasty, toilet bowl lows and gurgles all the way through.  Perhaps a perfect example of honing ones craft while not over-doing things.
Each instrument is so tight with the whole band.  These guys know what they are doing.
Raw production values are what makes this fun from start to finish.  Static-y guitars, surprise harmonics, tempo changes   No riff is boring.

The self-titled 2014 demo, limited to 200 copies and released under Swallow Vomit Productions, was raw  and un-polished. Maybe too much so, making it come off as rushed and lacking the certain intricacies that 'Aberrant Amusement' has sprinkled throughout.
Now, we hear a warmer, more put together production.  The bands precision and skill-set can be easily distinguished, and most importantly, enjoyed.
Also, these are very humble, great dudes.  In a genre that is so over-saturated with fakes and phonies, it is extremely awakening and refreshing when a band is this obvious and, seemingly effortless, in their intention.  That intention comes off as making music they love, keeping things raw, real, and honest, all while having fun.
Now, I realize I've been out of the loop for a while, and a lot of people these days may have a totally different sound come to mind when it comes to BDM.  Maybe I'm just old.  I'll take that one on the chin.  I will, however, say this; if you are doing ANYTHING just for attention and/or shock value, please reevaluate your craft!  I think this is sound advice for any age group and any craft.  In this particular case, Ecchymosis are doing things perfectly!
The hollow, tinny, pingy snare is perfect.  The low, solid, caveman-esque vocals are perfectly accommodating for every instruments addition to the ebb and flow of this album.   Interesting tempo changes with fun and flawless transitions make for a wonderful listening experience.
As a whole package, this album delivers it all.  If you like one thing about it, you will love the whole thing.  Add to that the disgusting lyrical content and detailed, off-the-wall artwork, and you've got the total, nasty little package.

Ecchymosis - Discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath the skins surface.

Abberant - Departing from accepted norms.
Amusement - The act of amuse. - Amuse - To pleasantly hold attention.
Cadaveric - Having to do with a dead body or corpse.
Vomitplay - A made-up junction referring to enthusiastically playing with vomit.

Purchase album by clicking !HERE!