Review Summary: Aggression and speed are the main focus of Russian death metal act Scrambled Defuncts. On this album listeners will find plenty of both.
Scrambled Defuncts debut release
Hackled In Gore could be seen as a re-hash of many Cannibal Corpse (and other bands in the same vein including Morbid Angel, Suffocation, and Cryptopsy) albums. From the visual artwork themes of violence and gore, sickness and death with lyrical content to match, as well as many stylistic choices prominent throughout the album including that of “cookie monster growling” and blast beats. Many comparisons could be made back and forth between the bands but that doesn’t stop
Hackled In Gore being a quality death metal release.
Hackled In Gore is a display of sped up riffs, gruesome lyrical themes and an instrumental technical ability that could be considered amongst the best of the genre. However the album does break away from the speed riffs and blast beats and adds other sound sources that reinforce the gore inspired themes and add to the atmosphere of the album. These effects can be found in ‘Slashing of the Mummified’ where some rather creepy piano key strokes dance across the introduction before the listener is lead into a typical death metal onslaught. Other media input can also be heard at times throughout the album. All with the intent of darkening the band’s overall sound. Some of these sounds include scissors snipping, children crying before being mixed with symphonic chimes and bells that give the listener some diverse features that they were not expecting but add to the band’s overall atmosphere. Being the opening track ‘Subterranean Slaughterhouse’ starts the album off in a very positive manner. While there are many positive attributes there are some points where the listener may lose interest. Through all the fast paced drum work and crunching guitar riffs there is a tendency for recycled ideas and structure patterns that ultimately blend too much together.
Through the band’s instrumentation does
Hackled In Gore really shine. Yes, it’s heavy. But when you separate each component and look at what is taking place listeners will understand that each member knows what they are doing with their instrument. Each drum stroke is precise. The growls match the music. The bass guitar is solid and the guitars can organise the heavy and the melodic to perfection without become overdone and too much for the listener.
For the
Scrambled Defuncts there is a lot to show here. Although they are relatively unknown they add an extra element to the death metal genre. Underneath huge amounts of technical ability and a polished and practiced sound lies a debut that should push
Scrambled Defuncts to the front of the death metal scene. This debut effort should be big enough to create a fan base loyal enough to await the next record. Their style of music may have been done before by the above mentioned bands but that doesn’t stop them from doing it well.
Pros:
• Unrelenting in its aggression
• Solo and lead work, when heard is of a high quality
• Atmosphere and extra media sources
• Production is clear and of a high quality
Cons:
• Vocals lack some diversity
• Becomes recycled after repeated listens
