I like bands that, when you hear the name, you kind of know what’s ahead. There’s no guessing what a band called Behemoth might sound like. Same for Mournful Congregation. You’re going to get sad and depressed, aren’t you? You better believe it. Pretty sure when Slayer first came around, people weren’t shocked that they were heavy and relentless. It’s kind of nice to go in head first with a band simply based on what they’re called because you know your primary expectations are going to be met.

When I first started reading about Mutilation Rites, I figured I was in for ugly, relentless black metal that would provide no mercy at all. When I got a hold of their first demo, what I heard was what I expected I would hear. I don’t mean they’re predictable; they’re just very properly named. So yeah, you won’t put on their albums and get jazzy metal or something that’ll soothe you after a long day (unless, of course, you need to blow off a ton of steam). Their music is primal, furious, gut-wrecking and brutal, and you get 100 percent honesty with every one of their songs.

The band’s profile rose a little more last year with another demo and a split with Batillus that both opened a ton of ears. They ended up landing a deal with Prosthetic, who are doing one hell of a job making their roster nastier and heavier, and their debut full-length is one of the year’s more anticipated releases. At least as far as I’m concerned it is. But before we get to that point, this NYC-based beast has a 12-inch called “I Am Legion” coming out on Gilead Media to calm your thirst for blood. It’s a devastating effort that proves Mutilation Rites are one of the United States’ freshest, most promising young bands and are here to put a cleaver through the genre’s head.

The effort is but three songs and lasts a little less than 20 minutes, but it will blind you with its greatness and power. While Mutilation Rites remain black metal through and through and are just punishing on these tracks, they do let air into the room with some of their mind stretching on these songs. They do a nice job setting a mood, thus making the volcanic, often crusty outbursts even more effective. They’re well-rounded, smart players, and I would not be surprised if this band continues to evolve its sound into the future to include other elements. But I doubt they’ll ever be anything less than crushing and violent no matter what folds into their formula.

The album opens with “Cloaca Maxima,” a song that feels a little proggy and adventurous at the start, with some mid-tempo playing that reminds me of Mastodon’s earlier years, before it ignites into a full-bore assault from guitarists George Paul and Michael Dimmitt, while the rhythm section of bassist Ryan Jones and drummer Justin Ennis keep the low end rupturing. Paul’s hellish growls and shrieks hammer home their message like a rusty nail to the throat. “Blood Will Tell” also has some interesting melodies and atmosphere that sets the stage for the total panic and bludgeoning that grows out of them. The tempo gallops and chops at you, with a thrashiness that should inspire fists to pound off tables, doors, people, what have you. “Terrestrial Hell” closes the thing with a tirade that reminds me a lot of two other Gilead artists – FALSE and Barghest. It’s a violent thunderstorm of psychosis, with Paul sounding like he’s about to go off the rails emotionally, and the rest of the band members follow him up with off-kilter playing, eerie melodies and complete reckless abandon. It’s a stunning closer and leaves you begging for more helpings. But you’ll have to wait a while. Or you can play the thing over again.

Mutilation Rites have me excited, not just for their blossoming career, but for the future of USBM. They are keeping things interesting, they don’t do paint-by-numbers viciousness and they don’t seem to have any eye toward trends. They just plug their shit in and go, and if anyone in their wake isn’t prepared for them, to hell with those people. This stuff is angry and unfiltered, and to me, this is how black metal should sound. I plan to continue to spend a ton of time with this thing and sing their praises to anyone who will listen (and even to those who won’t). This is one dangerous machine with sharp gears that’ll cut you to pieces. Kind of like how their name indicates.

PS: If you’re heading to Gilead Media Music Festival, Mutilation Rites will be there to behead you in person. Check the details at Gilead’s site. Link’s below.

For more on the band, go here: http://www.facebook.com/mutilationritesnyc

And here: http://mutilationrites.bandcamp.com/

To buy “I Am Legion” (up for sale soon, so keep checking back), go here: http://www.gileadmedia.net/store/

For more on the label, go here: http://gileadmedia.net/