Australian technical extreme metal act Psycroptic have been away from the spotlight for a few years, but with the release of The Inherited Repression it's clear that the time away was well spent. As good as their previous CD Ob(Servant) was, they've upped the ante here, delivering a crushing affair that's as much technical death metal as it is rip roaring thrash with a touch of hardcore brutality.
Busting right out of the gate with "Carriers of the Plague", a pulverizing song with guitar riffs & fills flying all over the place, it's obvious that Psycroptic aren't playing around here. "Forward to Submission" continues the trend, as massive riffing, lethal shouts & barks, and frantic rhythms pummel the listener, yet it's hard to deny just how catchy this brutal track is. Even the experimental "Euphorinasia", with it's proggy & atmospheric little interludes and ridiclulously complex riffs & rhythms, is totally memorable and addicting. That's pretty much the case throughout Inherited Repression, as one song after another just bludgeons you senseless with brutality and technicality, but there's just so much groove and hidden melody that you keep coming back for more. "The Throne of Kings" is like a head on collision between Meshuggah and Pantera, and "Unmasking the Traitors" perfectly combines crushing groove with intricate arrangements. Tension builds and builds on the awesome "From Scribe to Ashes" (the riffs are to die for on this one), and the driving "Deprivation" sees Psychroptic 'out-Lamb of God' the mighty Lamb of God, delivering a catchy modern extreme metal classic with all the trimmings.
Man, it's hard to find fault with anything here. Production is monstrous, the vocals are menacing, the guitar work superb, the rhythms tight & intricate, and the songs a perfect balance of brutality, technicality, and melody. Without a doubt, The Inherited Repression is going to set the bar quite high here in 2012, and will certainly be a tough extreme metal album to beat this year.
Track Listing
1. Carriers of the Plague
2. Forward to Submission
3. Euphorinasia
4. The Throne of Kings
5. Unmasking the Traitors
6. Become the Cult
7. From Scribe to Ashes
8. Deprivation
9. The Sleepers Have Awoken
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
