EP REVIEW: Bent Benevolence – Offset

Bent Benevolence is the debut EP from Singaporean deathpunks OFFSET. It follows the band’s promising three-track demo, Besmirch, recorded live and released on tape in February 2019. On Bent Benevolence, OFFSET have turned up their punk and D-beat influences significantly. The result is a release brimming with energy, urgency and potential.

Deathpunk is a vague term for a genre, but in OFFSET‘s case it’s difficult to see how else to describe them. The band combines the blistering D-beat of crust punk groups like DISFEAR and WOLFBRIGADE, with buzzsaw guitars and guttural vocals reminiscent of death metal legends ENTOMBED. In their own words, OFFSET write “fast and sharp riffs [that] razor through under the wrath of the mighty HM-2 [Boss Distortion pedal]”. The EP was mixed by Ah Boy at TNT Studio and mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door Mastering. Both are a good fit, as neither are strangers to working with crushing, heavy acts. Boy has produced grindcore heroes WORMROT, and Control‘s mastering credits include albums by DARKTHRONE and TRAP THEM, among others.

OFFSET don’t waste any time in proving their punkier credentials. The EP’s opener Plunged Into sees them tear out the gate with breakneck chainsaw riffing and classic D-beat drumming. The band maintain the pace on next track Plugged Illusion, bringing to mind D-beat/crust punk pioneers DISCHARGE. Tempos are high in both songs, and vocalist Azri‘s low growls add an element unheard in the work of many of OFFSET‘s counterparts. As on Besmirch, the band took a live approach in the studio when recording Bent Benevolence. This adds a degree of rawness which is well-suited to the music, and there’s a sense that these tracks would go down even better at a live show.

While the first two tracks are both strong, it’s the second half of Bent Benevolence that shows the true extent of OFFSET‘s potential. Playhell opens with a slower sludgier section, which gradually builds until the band resumes the frantic pace of the first two tracks. They slow things down again halfway through the final track, Plagueatory, this time with a more moshpit-ready breakdown. While OFFSET seem happier at a faster pace, these slower moments show that they do have more than one trick up their sleeve. This is essential for music of this kind. Bands of OFFSET‘s ilk aren’t known for their dynamic variation, which means that tempo is often the primary tool in the arsenal of maintaining interest. This EP shows that OFFSET are more than capable of using this tool.

One key criticism of Bent Benevolence is that there may be points the listener may want a little more than Azri‘s death metal style vocals. While they do add an interesting element to OFFSET‘s sound, there are points where it feels like this EP is crying out for some different vocal techniques. This isn’t a huge problem, especially not in death metal – CANNIBAL CORPSE anyone? – but it’s difficult not to wonder what things would sound like if Azri varied up his delivery from time to time.

With a nine and a half minute runtime, OFFSET don’t hang around long enough for listeners to lose interest. From the throat-grabbing opening to the blistering final 30 seconds of Plagueatory, this EP passes by in a heartbeat. Once it’s over, listeners will no doubt be excited at the prospect of what OFFSET will do as they hone their craft in the years to come.

Rating: 7/10

Bent Benevolence is out now via Pulverised Records.

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