First impressions are crucial, and while they might be a little unfair as a means of judging someone or something, it’s wired into our brains. Getting out of the gate hot isn’t necessarily make or break for a new band, but getting the upper hand right away can only help ease the path and build momentum for whatever’s to come in the future.
I say that because we have “Lutum,” the debut demo offering from Costa Rican death/doom beast Perishing, and if this is any indication of the power they harness, we could be on precipice of one of the deadlier forces for the last half of this decade. The band—vocalist J.Antonio Salas, guitarist Justin Sánchez, bassist José Pablo Phillips, drummer JM Arrea—wastes no time making their presence known, tearing through these tracks that feel like they crept from a crypt, darkening your soul along the way. This is a raw, devastating display, a great first step from a band that’s so embryonic that their online presence is miniscule, and we only know what we have on this first recording.
“Tenebrous Resurrection” starts as rumbling doom and death, the growls retching as the playing leans into morbid ugliness that swelters uncomfortably. The pace then picks up and bashes, landing punches before burning off. “Existential Rift” has guitars ripping and gruesome growls, laying waste as the doom haze thickens over your head. The bass drives as the playing gets thrashier, the drums destroying everything in its path. The guitars slice, the vocals lurch, and the mucky final bursts pile up the carnage. The title track trucks hard as the clouds darken, the growls swell, and menacing horrors run amok. The pressure builds as monstrous chaos multiplies, mud splatters, and the pace goes into overdrive, echoing out into hell. Closer “Nefarius Aquiescence” runs 7:15 and starts with echo-rich drumming before the pace gets deadlier, the guitars giving off steam as the growls engorge. Creakiness sets in just as the storming gets more aggressive, firing and swirling, bringing thunderous heaviness that makes the ground quake. Then we’re back to doomy madness, grinding away at your psyche and coming to a bloody end.
“Latum” is a promising start for these Costa Rican beasts as Perishing pour vitriol and filth into this four-track demo that should just be the start of a horrifying reign. This smokes and brutalizes the entire run, and it has boundless energy that feels like it is aligning with the darkest forces lurking in the universe. Looking forward to what else this band has up its sleeves, and if this demo is any indication, we’re bound for a punishing ride.
To buy the album, go here: https://caligarirecords.storenvy.com/
Or here: https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/lutum
For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords
Meat Mead Metal 