Frustration and setbacks are annoying as all hell. You put time and effort into accomplishing something, and just as you feel you’re on the brink, everything comes crashing down, despite how hard you worked to keep it together. So, how do you come out from the other side, regain your momentum, and keep the machine going?
Bay Area death metal power Necrot might have the answer to that on “Lifeless Birth,” their third record and one that comes after a period of tumult. First, their second record “Mortal” was consumed by the pandemic, as they were not able to properly promote that thunderous effort. Then, myriad health issues popped up and sidetracked the band, burying their efforts and putting everything on hold. Luckily, the trio—vocalist/bassist Luca Indrio, guitarist Sonny Reinhardt, drummer Chad Gailey—persevered, and out came “Lifeless Birth,” a powerful, slashing affair that puts them back on track with music that’s going to crush live now that touring is in their grasp again.
“Cut the Cord” is a great opener that sucks you into the record, leads sweltering and roars pummeling, attitude dripping off every note. The thunderous chorus is one that is a trademark for this record: super simple and easy to wail back, sticky as all fuck. The leads burn and twist, leaving brain wiring smoking, heading into the title track that trudges and destroys. The guitars are blistering, speed exploding through the spidery playing, everything drubbing and making blood rush to the surface. Guitars fire up and mount a furious comeback while gutting blasts set up everything for a fiery finish. “Superior” storms the gates, drums decimating, the growls chewing away at prone flesh. Great leads build up and wrench, the bone-crushing fury adding to the pressure and also growing more infectious, vicious howls landing their marks as everything bleeds out onto the floor.
“Drill the Skull” trudges as the growls scathe, another simple, yet effective chorus worming into your head, nasty and driving playing making the bruising set in even darker. A sudden burst ripples out of the heaviness and sets everything off balance, thrashing through tornadic winds, the guitars ramping out and spattering blood. “Winds of Hell” begins with guitars swirling and creating chaos, thorny playing battering, and the tempo blowing through and twisting muscle. The leads multiply as the melodies increase and flood, and a fluid, yet fiery burst overwhelms, charring to a brutal conclusion. “Dead Memories” brings snarling guitars, growls that curdle, and a punishing pace that aims to take you apart. The soloing emerges from a blasting furnace, causing faces to melt, while forceful howls lambaste, ending in an ocean of flames. Closer “The Curse” steamrolls, stomping guts as the leads spiral, and the howls scrape at flesh. Things grow more humid as the guitars speed and spread, throaty growls feeling like they’re dicing Idrio’s throat, leading into total darkness. Riffs drill as the heat increases, ending everything in a pool of reflective blood.
Necrot aren’t rewriting death metal’s story, but they have added many compelling chapters of their own, the latest being “Lifeless Birth.” This is steady as it comes, a full blast of death metal played with bloody fury and an emotional passion that, even while they’re peeling back your flesh, you can’t help but have a good time. Necrot survived a period that would undo most bands and delivered a devastating collection that has the band roaring back to reclaim what is theirs.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/cyclesofpain
To buy the album, go here: https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com/?
For more on the label, go here: https://www.tankcrimes.com/
Meat Mead Metal 