Who wants to check out some old-school Death Metal from the cave? Nobody? Just me? Well, that’s what we have for you today. I hope you’re ready for what has become our usual review at MER, as we delve into Laceration‘s new album, I Erode. As you can imagine, everything in the title and art screams reckless destruction and a level of filth that rivals your bathroom’s toilet seat—you know, the one with black mold. Anyway, let’s swim in that mess in the name of Metal.
What can I say? I Erode blends the brutality of old Tomb Mold with subtle melodic touches, reminiscent of bands like Sepulchral Curse. It even brings a nostalgic feel, akin to Deicide or Immolation. Am I saying I Erode is retro-retro? Maybe. If you took any 90s Death Metal band from the US and gave them a budget and modern recording technology, they’d sound like Laceration. The album has that attitude and malice, but thanks to modern production and Laceration‘s common sense, we end up with something crunchy yet respectful of the past.
Be ready for a parade of evil and edgy-sounding riffs that will make you feel “badder” than the bully who’d steal the teacher’s lunch (wait, am I the only one who’d do that? Oops!). Yes, we have your expected mean blast beats, but I admit that snare has a commanding punch that I can’t easily forget. There are some textures here—it’s not all hitting you in the crotch with an old wrench. There are a few breathing moments, like in “Dreams of the Formless,” that show us Laceration has more than one speed. That’s often my fear with these old-school albums: they can end up being a one-trick pony. Speaking of limitations, let’s check the shortcomings of I Erode.
Well, it’s still meat-and-potatoes Death Metal. It’s reliable, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking. You’ll get what you came for, and that’s fine. However, we do live in an era of retro-new Death Metal that is starting to make me sick, and it’s becoming harder to tell these bands apart. Soon, the sub-genre will need change, so it doesn’t become old-school Black Metal, or worse, Power Metal! But I digress. A smaller complaint is the first track. I don’t think an album this aggressive needs a one-minute intro. Just give us the gold right away, guys!
If you want to add another consistent primitive release to your probably excessive collection, then Laceration has exactly what you need. It won’t surprise you, but if you’ve had issues getting into 90s Death Metal, here you have your gateway drug. Just don’t blame me once you’ve lost all your cash buying merch from bands whose logos or art are not safe for any job that requires a minimum level of interaction with the common folk. I warned you! It’s your turn to mess it up!
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Release date: July 26, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/lacerationofficial
Country: USA
Score: Consistent torment as expected, or 3.0/5.0 if you’re too lazy to read.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 