Salem Trials – Nocturnal Creation (EP)
Release Date: 21st July 2023
Label: Seek And Strike
Stream
Genre: Heavy Metal, Deathcore, Symphonic Deathcore.
FFO: Despised Icon, In Gloom, Carcosa, To The Grave.
Review By: Mike Leighton
Heavy metal entrepreneurs, and deathcore up-and-comers, Salem Trials, are set to release their second EP, Nocturnal Creation. This is an extremely strong effort by Canadian band, Salem Trials; one that will not only please current fans, but it is bound to bring in new ones for sure! Releasing through Seek And Strike on 21 July 2023, Salem Trials is made up of Thierry Patenaude on vocals, Nick Baker as well as Randy Massia on guitars, Brett Riddiford on bass, and Zack Bray on the drums!
First track, Cenotaph, is a groovy, bouncy track with some great sound layering. The vocal delivery by Theirry is insane, and the guitars have an extremely succinct, crunchy tone throughout. Cenotaph is a great opener, and a perfect update to their already powerful sound moving forward. So far, the sound Salem Trials have brought to the table is very reminiscent of OG deathcore acts such as Oceano, Whitechapel, and I Declare War (aka a very raw, produced yet unproduced sound).
Second track, Never Ending, starts off with some amazing vocals that almost remind me of Joe Badolato of Fit For An Autopsy. I really love the mid-section of the track, where you hear the almost galloping guitar chugs mixed with some sweet pinch harmonics. The drums really shine throughout this track because they give it that fast-paced, in your face vibe that really accentuates the rest of the instruments as well as the vocals. Only thing that got me, unlike the name of the track, was that the song ended.
Halfway through, we get to the title track, Nocturnal Creation. Overall, I think this track is my favorite on the EP. It just felt filthy (stank face engaged), and the low gutturals really made the track for me, especially when juxtaposed to the almost spoken screams in between “verses.” At times when you have the drums pounding, and the one note chugs interlaced with the cool guitar scale runs, the fact that a simple composition can also be just as heavy as something complex is really highlighted. I think this EP is going to really expand the bands reach and show fans (new and old) that they are here to stay.
Lastly, we have Immolation, which just happens to be the first single, and the track that that put this band on a lot more radars. Everything about this song gave me more of what I already really enjoyed about the band, but more. The closer caught me off guard, but also made me extremely happy because just when I thought it was over, and I was yearning for more, I got hit with a brutal closer of a breakdown.
If you don’t know this band, definitely check this EP out, you might be surprised! 
(4.5 / 5)
