ALBUM REVIEW: Heritage – Distant

It is no secret that the deathcore scene was dominated by LORNA SHORE in 2022 and Will Ramos has done very little to hide his excitement and support for this five-piece band hailing from the gracelands of both The Netherlands and Slovakia; arguably you could say he’s their biggest cheerleader. So with DISTANT dropping this relentless ear assault freshly into the new year let’s take a deep dive into their world and answer that question hanging on the tip of your tongue: is it worth the hype or is it just another record amongst the swarm of your typical, average deathcore bands?

The album opens with Acid Rain which carves industrial influences you’d expect to hear in the DOOM soundtrack courtesy of Mick Gordon and atmospheric synths building up to something no less than spectacular as it smoothly transitions into Paradigm Shift; the latter proves the ferocity this band has with from the very first note, and shows off their ability to subtly carve an unsettling eeriness in the background that really pulls through during the chorus and breakdown whilst laying low during its verses. 

As the album further progresses we aren’t disappointed with the continuous heaviness ejected, but from the first note of Argent Justice we’re reminded that the best is yet to come. On paper this collaboration sounds absolutely insane: sixteen guest vocalists? Who approved this idea? How could you possibly give that many vocalists time to shine in their own right? And just as the ocean ebbs and flows our worries dissipate throughout the track’s entirety. Vocally this track sounds like the descent to the pit of hell after being banished from the gates of heaven in the best way possible; featuring the likes of ANGELMAKER, EMMURE, BODYSNATCHER and SUICIDE SILENCE to name but a few, this is to deathcore what Endgame was to the MCU, a crossover of epic proportions. The track goes from fast-paced insanity to agonisingly slow brutality, creating a cacophony of sounds squished together in harmony. The execution wholly exceeds expectations.

The silence is deafening before we’re graced with The Gnostic Uprising and the sharp, ear piercing scream of “This is a moment where we arise” which really shows the impressive range of Alan Grnja, failing to falter for even a millisecond. This track really captures a dystopian feel effortlessly through its lyrical imagery; a visionary illusion even. And for those guitarists out there who have an undeniable taste for pinch harmonics this track is an absolute delight, with the guitars really cutting through the violent onslaught Jan Mato embarks on with his drum kit. 

By the time the title track arrives we’re treated to another collaboration on this record with none other than Will Ramos himself. Grnja and Ramos‘ voices collide exceptionally like peanut butter and jelly; easily the most anticipated of the guest features. If you combine that with the grooving intensity of the guitar riffs and the chunky, crisp sharpness of the bass cutting through you end with a nightmarish vision that closes out on a guitar solo to leave you yearning for more. 

Orphan Of Blight throws caution to wind with its dramatic theatrics, feeling both cinematic and eerie simultaneously. Then as expected we’re struck by the face-melting gutturals of Grnja which sound like an infusion of Ramos‘ pterodactyl-esque highs and the bellowing lows of Alex Terrible of SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, with the insanity of blast beats and thick cut guitar riffs sure to have fists being thrown left, right and centre in the pits at live shows. 

We reach the end of this journey with Plaguebreeder, and compared with what we’ve witnessed previously on this record this track is considerably less chaotic. However, it doesn’t let up in the vocal department, bringing Grnja once again to the forefront, and if you weren’t already impressed by his range prior there’s nothing to cause too big of a distraction to not notice now. The ending of this track is a little jarring, but as Grnja‘s scream fades into nothing but a void of silence you are left both satisfied yet thirsting for more. 

Despite being a colossal 47 minutes of hell-induced torture, Heritage could still go even further, but upon first inspection it’s clear to see why DISTANT are gaining attention as of late. You have tracks like Paradigm Shift and A Sentence To Suffer serving some hardcore-tinged riffs – the latter’s breakdown delivering a torturous rendition of the phrase “again but slower” – whilst Human Scum and the title track end on tantalising breakdowns. This album is not one to be slept on and arguably a perfect introduction to the genre for those who may have never stepped foot into the unruly world of deathcore. 

Rating: 8/10

Heritage is out now via Century Media Records.

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