Review Summary: A brutally intense and technically impressive EP that showcases Slaughter to Prevail’s early potential, even if its relentless aggression occasionally slips into repetition.
Chapters of Misery by Slaughter to Prevail is an uncompromising display of technical brutality that helped cement the band’s reputation within the international deathcore scene!
Built around sheer aggression, rhythmic volatility, and the monstrous vocal presence of frontman Alex Terrible, the EP delivers an intense and often punishing listening experience that rarely seeks subtlety.
The record opens with Intro, a nearly instrumental assault that immediately sets the tone. Frenetic drum patterns collide with dense, downtuned guitars and cavernous guttural vocals. The atmosphere is oppressive and violent, recalling a version of Slipknot pushed far beyond their groove-oriented sensibilities into something more relentless and stripped of melody. It is an explosive and confident introduction that leaves no doubt about the band’s intentions.
Hell follows with even greater ferocity. Constant tempo shifts prevent the track from feeling linear, while blast beats and crushing breakdowns keep the tension high. Around the three-minute mark, the song introduces a darker and more progressive section that evokes early Opeth, particularly in its layered guitar textures and atmospheric weight. This contrast adds depth, although the overwhelming brutality remains the dominant force.
Beast begins with intriguing guitar arpeggios before descending into controlled chaos. The track makes heavy use of sonic explosion effects reminiscent of Strapping Young Lad, occasionally to excess. Structurally, it feels more focused than Hell, with stronger and more memorable riff work. The closing section is particularly devastating, incorporating rhythms that verge on black metal intensity and giving the song a crushing finale. It stands out as one of the stronger cuts on the EP.
Death opens at a slower pace, embracing a more traditional death metal atmosphere that aligns with its title. Soon, however, it escalates into something even more savage than the preceding tracks. Technical passages and complex rhythmic interplay suggest the influence of progressive extreme metal acts such as Atheist, Cynic, and of course Death. Despite this impressive display of musicianship, it is here that the EP begins to show its first signs of fatigue. The abundance of tempo changes and technical flourishes cannot fully disguise a growing sense of repetition.
Misery erupts like a sonic machine gun before shifting decisively into black metal territory. Blast beats in the vein of Hellhammer drive the track forward, while darker melodic guitar lines emerge midway through, adding a welcome layer of atmosphere. Crowned and Conquered maintains the speed and aggression but does little to counteract the creeping sensation that the EP is running low on fresh ideas.
The closing track, As The Vultures Circle, partially overcomes this fatigue. Its longer runtime and almost progressive structure allow for more dynamic development. Around the third minute, strong melodic guitar passages introduce a sense of space and contrast that leaves the EP on a more satisfying note.
Conclusion: Chapters of Misery is a formidable and technically impressive first release that showcases Slaughter to Prevail’s raw power and precision. However, its relentless intensity occasionally borders on monotony, as repeated structural patterns begin to surface beneath the surface chaos.
Even so, the EP remains a compelling example of modern extreme metal’s capacity for sheer impac and it proved that Slaughter to Prevail was already an interesting band in its early days, one to watch very closely.
Best Tracks: Hell, Beast, As the Vultures Circle.
