### S(crap)s: Souldrainer / Tonic Breed / Rude / Defying / Electric Hellride / Scorned Disciple

#### 05/06/14 || Global Domination

#### Souldrainer: Architect

Lord K: Competence from Sweden. The Hypocrisy vibes are present and there’s not really much to complain about even if this kind of melodic and keyboard orientated (death) metal isn’t really my cup of tea. 7

Cobal: There’s two evident truths to this: First, I’ve listened to this before. Second, they do it pretty well. 7

Habakuk: Man, this band has exactly ONE influence. Well, if that’s your thing, go for them. I won’t be in the way. 5

The Duff: Great stuff – sometimes get a Gojira vibe which as we all know is appreciable only in regulated doses, punkier-aggro, Swedodeath, well-produced Darkthrone – with a Kvelertak buoyancy – Borknagar, a fair bit of melody akin to Dimmu Borgir and chant-alongs. Very catchy, not too relevant. 7

#### Tonic Breed: Outsold

Lord K: Gin And Tonic Breed try to thrash as if their lives depended on it. Ok stuff at times, but mostly not. 4

Cobal: Here we go – again: Take everything I typed above, apply it to a revival thrash release and add an extra mark for passion. 8

Habakuk: I so want to like them. 5

The Duff: I love these guys, they play well, with heart, but why they are playing rip-off 80s thrash is beyond me; those albums still exist, and if assembling all of thrash’s heyday riffs makes Tonic Breed the progenitors of thrash metal music in one hundred years time to kids who fail to know any better well then the last feat I shall perform on this Earth will be to chew through my own asshole just before kissing my kids goodbye. 0

#### Rude: Soul recall

Lord K: Old school death metal with a shitty production, but still – it’s old school death metal and that always… no, almost always work. The drum sound is absolutely fucken horrible. Good work. 5

Cobal: Listened to this twice; the second time was just for the fun. All the massiveness of death metal of old plus some detail that makes it more than listenable. 7,5

Habakuk: Rude! RUDE! Is that the most transgressive thing you could think of? Good thing you have some decent old school death to make up for it. 6

The Duff: Bless you Rude. BLESS YOUR FUCKING COTTON SOCKS! Classic Morbid Angel opening riff, I am hard – after all the shit I’ve waded through with these goddamn scrap features. Then we are a little Pestilence/Entombed, a spicing of black metal, I’m digging this; killer Azagthoth shred worship, that is how it is done – deserves more for musicianship, but evidently not the most original band (they are commended thus on the short and sweet track-lengths), these guys fucken groove reminding me of the 80s. 7

#### Defying: Nexus artificial

Lord K: The moody parts get my attention, but as a whole there’s not much about Defying’s brand of Opeth metal that sticks. 5

Cobal: There’s a significant Opeth dose alright. I’d go as far as saying this rather reminded me of Orphaned Land though, Middle-Eastern vibe included. Not that we’re talking apples and oranges here. I applaud the mesmerizing factor and yearn for a less agitated life rhythm so I could enjoy this more. 6,5

Habakuk: Shit, this actually ain’t bad. 7

The Duff: A cross between The Esoteric and My Dying Bride. I feel like their guitars wear a perm. Bored. 2

#### Electric Hellride: Come darkness, come light

Lord K: Some of this shit is actually kinda great and some of it is sucking it. I expected stoner for some reason, thank fuck I didn’t have to go through that. 6

Cobal: Good ol’Duff Said it better than I could. Liking the mashup a bit better though. 5

Habakuk: It sounds like an amateur band, but a damn good one. 7

The Duff: Anthrax with Pantera’s attitude, occasionally Slayer meets melodeath and Sepultura’s “Chaos A.D.”. Not the worst thing I’ve heard. 3

#### Scorned Disciple: The cosmic dance of Shiva

Lord K: Only 2 songs here, and I don’t mind. Modern half-djent with some tricky stuff. You know the deal. Not bad. 6

Cobal: Futuristic chugga-chugga for almost everyone! 5

Habakuk: Dun. Dududun. Dun Dun. Dududun. Sblaargh. 5

The Duff: Not Meshuggah clearly, comparatively they are playing standard rhythms – less interesting than Animals as Leaders but moreso than Periphery? There is just enough flavour to this, less the demented over-use of the 9th string or however many they are producing them these days – what a grating fad. All said, a shame this is only two tracks. 6,5