ALBUM REVIEW: 劇變 (Jubian) – Ripped To Shreds
The wave of the old school death metal revival is showing no signs of slowing down as bands aplenty are respawning the colossal and skull-crushing sounds of decades prior into the modern age. Since forming in 2016, Bay Area via Taiwan death metallers RIPPED TO SHREDS have enjoyed a steady rise within the underground. Two years on from their 2020 debut 亂 (Luan), the band are back with their sophomore offering: 劇變 (Jubian).
Picking up where its predecessor left off, 劇變 (Jubian) is a bold and brutal affair, providing wave after wave of death metal worship with aplomb. Opener Violent Compulsion For Conquest is a fitting namesake for the aural chaos contained within this track, as a cacophony of thundering blastbeats intertwine with the demented howls from Andrew Lee to show that RIPPED TO SHREDS do not pull their punches in the slightest.
From there, RIPPED TO SHREDS continue to impress, showcasing a proficiency for their craft, splashes of experimental adventuring, and putrid nastiness that makes this blend of death metal so effective. Split Apart By Five Chariots is a thundering number as the more feral tenacity of the band’s sound comes to the forefront and thundering riffs take command to wondrous effect, including a mid-tempo hammer blow that will leave you stunned. Harmonious Impiety swings like a merciless scythe as the chugging riffs cascade into a medley of dizzying shred and howling shrieks from Lee, and 漢奸 (Race Traitor) walks the tightrope of relentless brutality and melodic-infused soloing ever so effortlessly.
But arguably the crown in 劇變 (Jubian)‘s crown is the ten and a half minute epic 獨孤九劍 日月神教第三節 (In Solitude – Sun Moon Holy Cult Pt 3). An absolute behemoth of a song, the expansive length works in RIPPED TO SHREDS‘ favour as they demonstrate their more expansive and progressive elements, and at times the result is emphatic. Whilst it does tread on slightly too long within the context of the overall album, what this track shows is that RIPPED TO SHREDS are so much more than just a death metal revivalist band. They are open to pushing ever so slightly out of the boundaries of the genre and when it connects, it really does showcase the brilliance within their ranks.
With 劇變 (Jubian), RIPPED TO SHREDS have delivered another solid record that justifies the excitement surrounding this promising death metal band. Building upon its predecessor with enough splashes of inventive new ideas to keep things fresh whilst retaining the core essence of the old school death metal sound, 劇變 (Jubian) is certain to be a hit for anyone who has an ear for the more extreme end of the metal spectrum.
Rating: 8/10
劇變 (Jubian) is out now via Relapse Records.
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