Metalcatto
Welcome to the newest section of the blog, where those who patreon/contribute to the site (see options below) get our most honest feedback possible. This is still a review, but it’s also aimed at telling the band what works—and what needs improvement.
Alright, this is still a bit alien to me in some ways. As you know, only lately have we started diving into Grindcore, and Then We Died definitely swims in those murky waters. Broken Skull Opera might lead you to believe there’s something noble or theatrical happening here, but absolutely not—this is music trying to bash your skull in with a sledgehammer dipped in sewer water. There’s nothing symbolic or poetic behind the brutality. The romanticism is nonexistent, and the band is busy painting a horror-movie scenario where it’s clear from the first note that no one made it out alive. The riffs feel like frantic escape attempts, the vocals sound like something lurking behind a rusted metal door, and the pacing resembles the final sprint of someone who already knows they’re not going to outrun the monster. It’s frantic, violent, and oddly committed to being as uncomfortable as possible.
The production is raw, but not disgusting. Grindcore bands can easily give old Black Metal a run for its money in terms of sounding like a boombox buried under mud, but Then We Died doesn’t lean that far into chaos. Everything stays surprisingly balanced—except the drums. There are many moments where they deliberately sound like a bag of cutlery being thrown down a sink. But honestly, it fits the whole decadent, collapsing-factory atmosphere. Nothing here goes over the three-minute mark, so the record never overstays its welcome. In fact, sometimes it feels like the riffs could’ve used a bit more time to simmer, mutate, or fully melt your face off. Yes, I know—it’s deranged to want longer Grindcore songs, but here we are. The whole thing ends up being around twelve minutes long. You spend more time on your phone while sitting on the toilet. So maybe just put this on while you’re at it.
I make a lot of cheap jokes, but for once the recordings used here didn’t bother me. Maybe it’s because Werner Herzog’s voice pops in with one of his classic monologues, and hearing that over grinding distortion is unintentionally magical. It elevates the atmosphere and gives the whole project this haunting, documentary-from-hell vibe. The surrounding samples and background noises make Broken Skull Opera feel claustrophobic and sticky, like being trapped in a basement where the lightbulb keeps flickering. However, there’s one thing I need to point out. Grindcore vocals are known for experimentation, and I get that the goal here was to gross out the newcomers—but the gargling technique sometimes pulls focus away from the riffs. It’s effective, it’s nasty in the right way, but I hope Then We Died explores more range in the future. A touch of Death Metal vocal influence could go a long way. If Benighted can weaponize vocal variety, anyone can. Oh, and that last track suddenly swerves into a Punk-leaning direction. I’m still unsure if I wanted that, but it was an… experience.
Yet I honestly believe Broken Skull Opera could be an accessible entry point into Grindcore if you a) dread overwhelming heaviness or b) like anyone with taste, despise atrocious production. Then We Died offers something primitive and raw, but with enough intention and engineering to keep extreme Metal fans interested. If you enjoy the horror-ride approach, this might be your next chaotic little obsession. Good luck.
Label: Independent
Release date: 21 May , 2025
Website: https://thenwedied.bandcamp.com/album/broken-skull-opera
Country: USA
Score: 3.0/5.0
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