EP REVIEW: Twisted Horror – Exhumed/Gruesome
Split albums are funny things. Often the most viable way for newer, more modest bands to release their work and split (pun intended) the costs, it is rare for larger, established groups with extensive discographies to take this route outside of NUNSLAUGHTER or AGATHOCLES. Add the fact that the same person is behind both outfits featured here, namely vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey, and the situation becomes even rarer. However, considering the man’s fiercely underground and old-school ethics, the similarities with the aforementioned extreme metal institutions become entirely logical. The title of the record, combining terms from both groups’ latest full-lengths, clinches the deal.
Long-running death/grind maniacs EXHUMED kick things off with three belters that are instantly recognisable and follow on, stylistically speaking, from last year’s full-length Horror. Possibly the most significant remnant of their CARCASS-worshipping early days, namely the screechy/cavernous dual vocal assault, is fully in place as opener Rot Your Brain blasts forward in a surge of Swedish-sounding death metal and a beautiful breakdown halfway through. Elsewhere, solos shred and drums blast in a four-minute assault on the senses that could easily qualify as one of the Californians’ best compositions ever.
Buried to Die continues the slaughter, with the only handicap of having to live up to its predecessor. A perfectly serviceable tune with a ripping solo, this wouldn’t sound at all out of place on their classic first records. Completing EXHUMED’s half of the split, Dead, Deader, Deadest not only offers a morbid English language lesson but also the heaviest cut yet, with grinding guitars and pounding percussion serving as the perfect backdrop for the dual vocal attack. Expect no mercy whatsoever.
Boasting incredibly tasty leads, grimy production and a venom hardly matched by bands half their age, EXHUMED are positively feral here. Their work on Twisted Horror continues the killing streak and proves that their recent return to faster, more visceral and primal territories was not a one-off. Very impressive. GRUESOME are up next. The first question on everyone’s fingertips in the online metal cosmos when Matt Harvey’s ‘other’ band unleash new sounds is which DEATH album will this one pay homage to. So far we’ve had Leprosy, Scream Bloody Gore, Human and Spiritual Healing, so the only remaining way to go is all-out progressive death metal, right?
Wrong. Without wishing to cast aspersions on the lads’ (and lady’s) technical abilities, Chuck Schuldiner became the legend he did with his later works due to an unparalleled level of musicianship and his knack of surrounding himself with the most talented musicians within the world of extreme metal – none of which really sounds like Matt Harvey’s bag to start with. Instead, what we get on Twisted Horror are two tracks that dwell in the early-to-mid period of the legendary pioneer. A Mind Decayed hints, both musically and title-wise, at where they left off on 2018’s Twisted Prayers. This reeks of Spiritual Healing, with a killer guitar tone and those characteristic riffs that manage to sound exactly like Schuldiner’s while at the same time managing to avoid blatant rip-offs. And Harvey’s vocal impersonation of ‘Evil’ Chuck continues to be extremely uncanny.
Second number Led Into the Dark travels back in time to DEATH’s first two albums, combining the riffing style and sound of the debut with the relative maturity of the sophomore. This is a total old-school mashup that ends as abruptly as it begins, eschewing any pretences of sophistication and completing the split on a very high note that, as with all of GRUESOME’s work, will have fans running for their DEATH vinyl collections to relive the gory glory days.
Strong feelings either way for this band will remain unchanged by these two tracks. By now, one knows exactly what to expect from GRUESOME, and the decision whether to criticise them for lack of originality or praise them for successfully continuing Chuck Schuldiner’s legacy in loving tribute as always rests squarely with the listener.
Twisted Horror won’t break down any boundaries or revolutionise death metal in any way, which is exactly what it doesn’t aim to do. This is Matt Harvey’s personal party, a celebration of the old days when extreme metal was all about straight-ahead, unfussy brutality, and if you care to join in, you’re welcome. If not, Harvey won’t lose any sleep over it. He’s clearly having a blast.
Rating: 7/10
Twisted Horror is out June 5th via Relapse Records.