Death Curse
2014 Dark Descent Records
Third full-length from Anaheim's Gravehill, still playing their own heavily disfigured style of death/thrash metal. Lots of different influences on this one though, coming across as an ungodly mix of older Napalm Death, early Exodus, and early (sense a trend here?) Death, with a good amount of punk (and not the bubble-gum pop shit) thrown in as well. "Death Curse?" No doubt. But if we're talking about a spell of pure evil, consider this incantation to be "Scream Harmony Corruption Bonded by Bloody Gore." Mike Abominator's phrasings and vocal style (or maybe rantings?) at times remind me a whole lot of the late Paul Baloff's, especially on "Open Their Throats," which immediately brought to mind the line "use a rusty knife" from "Exodus" off the "Bonded By Blood" album. At the same time, he also evokes the sound of Barney Greenway off his earliest output in Napalm Death. But enough about that ugly bastard. Let's talk about the deranged guitars of Hell Messiah and CC DeKill, both of whom are new to the band and combine to kick a serious amount of ass. Let's see if they stick around for a while, because having a rotating door when it comes to members really sucks. The simple fact here is that if you were into the band before, there's everything here you've come to expect and more. If you weren't, then hopefully you'll be newly converted. And if you end up not liking what you hear at all, then go listen to some wimpy power metal and fuck off. You're not wanted and not needed. Gravehill - keeping the underground ugly since 2001.
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