ALBUM REVIEW: The Smothering Arms of Mercy – Growth
Australia has that many incredible rock and metal bands these days we could probably fill all three days of Download Festival with them. Another emerging force is the extreme metal trio known as GROWTH who have just dropped their debut album entitled The Smothering Arms of Mercy which is available now via Wild Thing Records. Don’t forget your crash helmet.
If the unnerving dissonance which leads opener Cigarette Burns is anything to go by this could be a rough ride. It doesn’t take long before a barrage of vicious growls and ferocious blast beats grab this track by the scruff of the neck. The frenzy doesn’t let you settle for more than a split second as it twists and turns frantically, leaving a shroud of darkness in its wake. The Treatment For Melancholy picks up the pace whilst still continuing the maddening level of intensity previously established. Proficient, bewildering guitar work throws curveballs at will to keep you on your toes. When the lunacy settles into a restrained groove the melodies prove to be particularly alluring. Fortress Of Flesh And Bone kindly offers you a moment to pick your broken teeth up off the floor with some floating, captivating tones. As it progresses it becomes more and more ominous, like a creature waiting to pounce from out of the shadows. Just as you become acquainted with the minimalism you are confronted with waves of blunt force aggression that knocks the breath right out of your lungs.
Our Lady Of The Hanging Heart resumes the uncomfortable, maniacal experimentation that ebbs and flows more than a boat in a storm. In most cases a particular instrument takes centre stage and provides a focal point but every aspect feels like it has been dialled to 11. It meshes together in one unrelenting vortex of insanity and is as graceful as it is bludgeoning. Lead Us To Our Glorious Times welcomes you with the caustic screams of frontman Luke Frizon alongside crushing guitar work and additional instances of swift drumming. The soaring, melodic vocals which are slotted into the track are a nice change of pace from being perpetually battered and somehow fit into the savagery seamlessly. Darkly, It Tightens Its Grip shows no signs of this release running out of ideas as it continues to perplex you with the countless transformations that GROWTH transition through like a demonic chameleon. Wild shredding intertwines with jabbing riffs as moments of light manage to seep their way into the hellish soundscape.
Soul Rot throttles you with waves of utter fury, crazy, eccentric riffing and baffling drum patterns fly at you from every conceivable angle leaving you feeling like your brain is about to leak out of your ears trying to remotely consider how this piece was constructed. Something Follows proceeds to pummel what now remains of your shattered bones with yet another round of vicious dissonant carnage, partially allowing you an opportunity to soak in the atmosphere with swathes of melodic, haunting riffs and a calmer demeanour. Gird Your Loved In Armour While Yet You Wither has zero intention of just peacefully departing, throwing you through the gauntlet one last time. Flurries of mystifying technicality ensure that GROWTH firmly retain your gaze until the very final note is struck.
On first inspection, you do wonder if you will be able to survive an hour of such feverish brutality but it’s like a beautiful disaster. You can’t take your eyes off it even though you feel it may cause irreparable damage. When you feel equally as relieved as you are saddened to hear a release finish you know you have experienced something special. The Smothering Arms of Mercy is as captivating as it is utterly merciless and if this is only the beginning, then the sky is the limit for GROWTH.
Rating: 9/10
The Smothering Arms of Mercy is out now via Wild Thing Records.
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