EP REVIEW: Reversed – Widow Recluse

Here is the new Reversed demo with the CD and vinyl releases set for 2019 but the digital and cassette release out now on Temple Of Mystery Records. This is the bands first demo so I have no idea what to expect but that to me makes it all the more intriguing.

1. Venefic Noose opens with feedback and then just drops into some absolutely obliterating tremolo picked riffs, there is a bleak and claustrophobic tinge to the track with a much deeper menace lurking. The blast beats that have quite a blackened touch underlay the grinding assault of the chainsaw guitars beautifully and honestly the dreadfully grim vocals perfect the mix. There is a really heinous putridity to the sounds the band use and I love it. The hate fuelled march of the track has this just catatonically dark and foreboding atmosphere to it, drawing on some more Black Metal sounds as used by Leviathan and such but also some utterly gruesome Death Metal vibes taking the foreground with their storming assault coming together very nicely. A killer first track, they have certainly set the bar for the demo very high with raw, grooving and uniquely bleak Death Metal morbidity.
2. Widow Recluse follows up with more typically recognisable death chord work and guitar solos that sound absolutely glorious over some more killer tremolo riffs that certainly keep in consistency with the dreadfully heavy and epic last track. The convulsive riffing, blast beat attack and maniacal vocals make for some very interesting music that really pulls together into something very original, this is much darker than the average Death Metal album for one and also more atmospheric. There are some quite catchy elements possibly drawn from the chorus’ primal yet effect ambush on the senses. There is no forgiveness or doubt in the music, this is a headstrong and unfaltering assault of pure extremity and gorgeously put together, epic songwriting. The cleaner guitar sections added a really bleak, sombre feel within the song but keeping the momentum going in the rhythm and bass sections nicely. The flourishes of lead guitar that do not infect the track with too much melody but really add to and elevate the soundscape are a nice ending touch. Incredibly impressed thus far.
3. Sepulchral Dirt much like track 1 begins with feeding back guitars but just feels more like it is building to something rather than going straight in for the kill, more of a chasing vibe coming from this. The huge lead guitars and gravelling rhythm/bass section with full on drums and blackened yet still perfectly gory vocals really have a monstrously conducted impact. There are some really nice Sarcofago / Vulcano vibes from the chorus with a sort of thrashing and blackened touch to them before going into even some doomy territory, this song taking many unexpected twists and turns throughout. The reliably intense Death Metal attack soon enough returns though with some torturous screams as well, killer stuff!
4. Bloodthirst opens with some killer drumming and plenty more dismally grim Metal attack. The huge tremolo riffs have tons of atmosphere and are beautifully written, the song then descends into this almost quite punky assault which just obliterates. The track almost cascades gruelling and macabre sounds down into this guttural, raw yet awesome mix, perfectly moulding their sound for the demo into this just purely aggressive and loathing sounding track. This is some very well conducted music, the full throttle impact is consistently heavy and unpredictable with flawless execution and plenty of more atmospheric parts really adding to the creepy vibe of the music. Great!
5. Black Spinning Sockets is the ending track of this richly intense demo. Coming in with some gorgeous old school Death Metal riffs, simplistic yet effective drumming and a nicely quickly built in ferocious first verse. Going straight through to hellish extremities and incredibly in your face music with some blistering lead work is just an awesome way to go out in style with this last track belting the music out just as hard as all of its predecessors. There are some nice slower parts with a cool older school vibe to them but this whole release has had a fairly old feel to it with its truly nasty songwriting and not overly produced mix. This last song is one more brilliantly tormenting and evil sounding piece of vitriolic and terrific Metal. The fantastic doomy mid sections really breaking things up to allow for one last surprise assault nicely. The tight punch of the song is very enjoyable and everything falls together beautifully. Brilliant work!

This may be some of the most gruelling, claustrophobic and sonically unpleasant yet horrifically enticing Death Metal of recent. Absolutely astounding debut EP and an unfaltering foundation to grow a macabre and dismal journey into extremity from. -8.5/10