Laceration – I Erode
Release Date: 26th July 2024
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Thrash Metal.
FFO: Malevolent Creation, Morbid Angel, Asphyx, Skeletal Remains, Pestilence, Demolition Hammer.
Review By: Rick Farley
The Bay Area in California is well known for heavy hitters in the thrash metal world. There’s even been a considerable amount of superb death metal bands from there that have graced the scene over the years as well. So, to get a band in 2024 that embraces 90s death metal with 80s thrash execution all with that homegrown Bay Area sound, now that is something that’s going to perk those ears up even before you have an actual listen.
Originally formed in 2006, Laceration, after many years of disbanding, EP’s, reunions and compilations, the veteran band finally released their debut album Demise in 2021. Showing that they have a firm grip on the classic sound with roots planted directly in thrash metal stylings. Throat ripping serrated riffs, menacing shreddy solos, Slayer style thrashy crunch and bellowing growls is a tried and true formula that never seems to get stale.
Now 2024, via 20 Buck Spin, we are offered a blast beat filled slab of throwback death metal in the form of Laceration’s second full length I Erode set to unleash itself the 26th of July.
The critiques before the good stuff. While not everyone is overly concerned with runtime, I Erode is a little on the short side for me at 32 minutes. Which can be forgiven, but there are two instrumentals and a couple of audio samples, totalling close to four of those precious minutes. One of the instrumentals is an obligatory filler, and the other a nostalgic piece of creepy acoustics, distorted chords and menacing guitar leads. Really killer track, but still worth mentioning the short runtime. The other critique will come down to personal tastes. Laceration is definitely not reinventing the wheel and that is perfectly fine, but I could jam this for a couple of months then take a break and end up not even remembering a thing about this record. That’s not a jab at this album, it’s really more of the idea that this genre is completely full of great bands and amazing records going back years and years.
I Erode is absolutely a whirlwind of addicting death metal crunch that hits like a steamroller. It is brutally intense, has tons of energy and has that sleek, virtuosic guitar shred that seems to be missing from modern metal these days. Tracks like Excised have a sinister mid-tempo groove full of lumbering bass and intoxicating, acrobatic shred before ripping into neck breaking speeds while Sadistic Enthrallment gives of those Morbid Angel vibes of searing guitar swagger that twists and turns sickly with hammering blast beats pounding at your chest. Strangled by Hatred is a master class in death/thrash, going from thrashy speed metal to slower riffs that have that signature metallic sound, crunchy enough to obliterate on impact. The vocals are a coarse growl with a vomited out delivery, so basically perfect for this genre. From beginning to end, Laceration is unapologetically a throwback to a distinctive death metal sound, with tons of well-crafted thrashy nastiness. The trajectory of the record is immediately satisfying from the first set of notes to its frenzied riff assault that fades out the end until it’s silent.
I Erode was recorded at Dark Corner Studios and produced by Exhumed legend Matt Harvey. The album was mixed and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios. It’s raw and loose while still sounding professionally recorded. The balance of modern sound to rawness is perfect, having good clarity and still sounding organic. Shout out to James Bousema for the sick album artwork.
All said and done, this remains one hell of a fun death metal record that is worthy of your time.
(3.5 / 5)
