Some of the best bands out there today rise to the top on focusing solely on emotion in their music. The art of trying to write the fastest music or the most brutal music is stale and simply is no longer relevant. Grindcore outfit, Trap Them, have returned with their fifth full length entitled Crown Feral (Prosthetic). Quite simply, this album is equally angry, chaotic, and depressive. From start to finish, this album is filled with riff after riff that are sure to stay with you all day.

While every song is riddled with HM-2 pedal guitar tones, thunderous drumming, and what seems like full-fledged shouting lyrics, there are a few tracks that really stood out. ‘Speak Nigh’ is one of the burners on the album that is equally fierce and fast. If this song does not make the live set list I will be greatly let down as it may be one of my all time favorites from Trap Them. Swinging to the other side of the spectrum for a slow, yet grueling track is ‘Twitching in the Auras’. With a heavy song like this, there simply is no need to write any breakdowns. Or maybe the whole song is a breakdown? Whichever way the listener interprets this, it is sure to make every kind of listener’s favorites on the album, if not for the year. The closing track, at just under four and a half minutes, is the longest on Crown Feral. Entitled ‘Phantom Air’, this one really showcases all elements of Trap Them. The first half is slow and heavy until a bass break comes in and the tempo is raised back up to typical levels. And just like that, the album suddenly comes to a halt.

At a mere thirty-two minutes, Crown Feral quickly got my heart rate up and then broke it abruptly when the album suddenly ended. Having said that, it is good to know that Trap Them avoids tossing filler tracks in just to extend an album like so many artists tend to do nowadays. One thing has remained true after each record that comes up out from these guys, and that is the itch for more.

8.5/10

TIM LEDIN