Review Summary: Brutal Death Metal meets Old School Death Metal
Gaped is one of the best Brutal Death Metal releases I’ve heard recently. Now pay close attention – it’s not an out-and-out album of that genre or sub-genre, it’s actually similar to those balls-out Rogga Johansson bands with heaviness to the max, pummeling to dust and rifftastic to the limit. Between the lines, it’s also Swedish-sounding, which is rather remarkable considering this band is from Australia of all places, and it’s also making a mark in this style of late with bands like Disentombed and Excruciate.
It’s just as riffy as say early Cannibal Corpse, although this sounds different. The point being, brutality is just another logical progression of the Death Metal style and that is evidently possible, with leads and all, Swedish touches, hints of melodies even. It’s reminiscent of early Hypocrisy too, the first two albums in particular, also Grave and Sinister offshoots namely Supreme Pain and Houwitser. It’s the Death Metal with riffing intact instead of silly slams and breakdowns, so to speak. This is the music that stands out and the Swedish touch only gives it an added dimension, untouched by most of the US-influenced bands these days.
This is just an EP but what a satisfying one it is – it doesn’t give you the impression of repeating itself, such well-placed and well-thought are the songs, that even after multiple listens, you keep enjoying them. There’s even the unmistakable Cannibal Corpse cover of Stripped, Raped and Strangled. This band has immense clout much like the German ones but this one has added dynamics and scope to make it stand out from all its peers. Clearly, this is an outstanding release – it’s Death Metal of the future, for what it’s worth.
