Redivider “Sounds of Malice”
“Quartered & Devoured” kicks off the album with sheer intensity and pit-starting guitar and drums. Jacob Spencer’s vocals deliver a combination of old-school death metal mixed with slam in some of the vocal depths. Paul Nunavath & Jake Atha are just delivering punishing riffs as James Goetz’ double bass punches through the palm-muted power. With a stank-face inducing riff and drum section after the halfway mark, the band just bombards the listener with heavy, chugging riffs that just instantly make you slow bang your head along with the double bass. With riffs that have classic death metal origins, but almost have tinges of thrash at some moments.
On the title track, the almost groove-heavy riff that almost sounds straight off of Morbid Angel’s Domination, just shows the band switching from slow, sludgy riffs into up-tempo and fast-paced riffage. Creating flurries of bombastic drumming by Goetz and accenting rhythm and lead guitars by Nunavath & Atha. The track does remind me of modern-day Cannibal Corpse or Severe Torture in the instrumentation and delivery, but still delivers that crushing heaviness. Especially with Xander Farrington’s adding that deep, gurgle to the track’s low end and even peeking through at certain parts of the song. My only issue with the track is it sounds like the song just abruptly ends. I was expecting one more chorus or breakdown or chugging section, leaving me wanting one more hit. The same opening vibe continues on “Shackled To Existence”. Leaning towards the brutal death metal aesthetic, it is pure heaviness and really riff heavy which I dug a lot and had me stank-facing throughout the verses section. And the bass lead at the halfway mark just sounds so nasty in tone and fits the vibe of the song so well, similar to how Oli’s bass sounds in Cryptopsy.
“Apocalyptic Waste” continues the sonic onslaught of death metal that seems to dabble in the groove/sludge tone of Domination-era Morbid Angel. Bass really takes the lead in-between the verse sections and adds a nice, unique touch to the mix and adds a little grit to the main riff. Spencer’s vocals continue that deep, gritty and gravelly presence in the mix. And that breakdown section at the three and a half minute mark just hit so good and had me stank-facing throughout that section and the remainder of the song. On “Fratricide”, another strong opening riff and double bass attack from the get-go. Heavy and delivering a heavy performance from Spencer on vocals, it definitely sounds like classic old-school death metal with modern production. And when the “Brees” transition into that classic old-school death metal riff with string bends and then straight palm-muted chugs, that was just a chef’s kiss transition.
“Bask in The Rot” has another slowed down chugging riff section near its opening minute. Bringing a gnarly and nasty breakdown-like tone to the song, especially with the “Brees” from Spencer. Though for me, it somehow just didn’t hit as much as the other tracks. Maybe it was too slow? Reminded me too much of Cannibal Corpse’s 2000’s era? I can’t seem to put my finger on it unfortunately. Album closer “Left To Rot” continues the slower pacing from the previous track, but does more with it and adds more complexity near the three quarters mark of the song as well. Ending the album on a high note.
Sounds of Malice was an overall solid record from Redivider. Capturing the tone and performance of the start and modern-era of death metal. Songs like “Quartered & Devoured” hit like a ton of bricks and just deliver that heavy, nasty sounding death metal I love. I think, in my opinion, the only missteps for me was “Bask in The Rot” sounding just “ok” to me compared to the other songs on the album. I think for the band’s next album, I would like to see them do more stuff to help them stand out from their peers or their influences. There were some moments where it sounded a lot like (insert band), and I would love for them to try to take more elements and ideas to help them stray away from that comparison. A good debut and a band I will be definitely keeping an eye on in the future.
SCORE: 4 / 5
You can stream Sounds of Malice on Redivider’s Spotify or you can purchase the album on their Bandcamp.
