Despite crust death metallers Necrot forming in 2011, the Oaklanders’ newest slab is only the trio’s third full-length in their brief-yet-inviting discography.
Essentially, the band doesn’t rush to put out a record, nor do they seem to want to release something before every “i” is dotted and “t” crossed.
In comes Lifeless Birth (Tankcrimes), the first long-player in four years. And despite what the title may portend, there is a bevy of activity and bombast found during the seven-song, forty-one-minute runtime.
The riffing on “Drill The Skull” creates a euphoric state almost instantly as an emphatic guitar presence is felt throughout. A different riff sees the same result later in the song, presenting a mighty juxtaposition considering a lobotomy is probably anything but a walk in the park.
The title track boasts spurts of spiraling strings that provide character, and nocturnal-sounding guitar solos chip in.
Furthermore, there is a distinct demonic and masochistic vocal pattern that permeates through “Dead Memories.” The drum presence here is menacing and provoking. And those chugs, oh boy those chugs. They’re built Ford tough (minus the rampant anti-Semitism) and a wave of metal quickly materializes in the final minute.
“Cut The Cord” is neither a Shinedown cover nor a PSA in favor of streaming services. The guitar tones and production is bulbous, amplified by dust-covered soloing. Coupled with laborious vocal deliveries and this track is a right crust-death experience.
Lifeless Birth additionally finds space and time for purposeful, confident harsh vocals and persistent frenetic pacing (“Superior”), and “The Curse” is quite simply dripping with finesse and panache.
The patience of Necrot’s record label is a firm vote of confidence that the band’s wait-and-see approach to releases is at this point tried and true. Three albums in thirteen years isn’t necessarily the output schedule typically found in Death Metal and likely not one that many execs or higher-ups would be comfortable with.
Necrot plows on to the beat of their own drum, and with a routine that is clearly mutually beneficial, why fix something if it isn’t broken?
Buy the album here:
https://tankcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/lifeless-birth
8 / 10
MATT COOK