ALBUM REVIEW: Ikonoklasta – Ruinas

On the ashes of a Spanish death/grind unit MACHETAZO come the Galicia-based duo RUINAS. The two-piece, continuing the death/grind style from their previous project, are all set to unleash their 13-track debut Ikonoklasta on March 20th via Spikerot Records. But can RUINAS add their name to the growing pedigree of Spanish extreme metal?

Instantly observable with the music here is that there’s a fine blend of the grind/death metal with sludge and hardcore punk that composes the RUINAS sound. The opening Trepanacion is one many examples, filled with razor sharp tremolo riffing, Rober‘s evil shrieks, and a stomping, sludgy, and oddly catchy structure throughout. Also distinguishable on Ikonoklasta is the sense of ambience. This may sound like an odd description for the duo, who have little atmosphere amidst their anger soaked death/grind sludge shenanigans, but it’s present enough on the recording to note.

During certain moments on Ikonoklasta the riffs, courtesy of Rober, take more melodic and roomy turn, alleviating the belligerent perspective ever so moderately and actually feeling a bit more euphonious, particularly on Fauces De Saturno, or Instinto Genozida. Then there is also Vomito De Sangre which is something of a standalone track that drops the death/grind viewpoint almost entirely in favour of an interesting approach more akin to some sort of melodic doom. While instances like this are not found in volumes on Ikonoklasta, they are present enough to be obvious and to serve as a welcoming authentication of RUINAS’ songwriting, that is more than obscenity and violence.

RUINAS reach bewildering and repellent heights of musical malignancy  on Ikonoklasta; Rober’s sharp, bloodcurdling screams and howls prove to be the most enthralling aspect of everything that is present in the mix here. Angel exhibits an essential drumming style, with a firm and pounding approach that’s vital yet embellished with bold and pungent percussive flourishes.

Ikonoklasta is a very solid album with a replay value that’s sure to make a good soundtrack for these bad days. Listening to it, one may find themselves running amok with a blunt object in their hands. The record is a deranged brute, with a protruding low end that plays a huge part in establishing an aggressive sound. Given the absolute quality of Ikonoklasta and how challenging it is to beat in the style of death/grind sludge metal, RUINAS served an album that will certainly be used as a factor of comparability for their future releases. Crude, grinding, and filthy, but also highly zestful at points, Ikonoklasta is an early highlight of the plagued year that fans of the grimier displays of sludge metal should give a try.

Rating: 8/10

Ikonoklasta is set for release March 20th via Spikerot Records.

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