Meat Grinder

For these Italians to sound concomitantly like Slayer, D.R.I., and Vulcano, yet also to be fairly dull is probably a feat in itself. As a debut album, Meat Grinder can be excused for mixing influences without much regard for novelty, though stealing two or three riffs from South of Heaven in the opening song, not to mention a couple of patented Jeff Hanneman solos, is more derivative than one would hope. However, minor points can be awarded for the slight hardcore and crossover tendencies that are most obvious on the 40-second burst of ‘L.M.T.’, but also form the gang vocals that crop up in many songs. The name Vulcano appears above in order to emphasize the extreme shout and general sloppiness of Enzo de Bartolomeo’s vocals, which certainly do not provide the finishing touch to the otherwise competent musicianship.

From the aforementioned triumvirate of significant influences, one can see that Assaulter like playing fast if nothing else, a feature which dominates the majority of the release. However, their speed often comes with the impression that things are not quite under control, particularly when the less thrashy speed parts crash their way forwards with mere pace and no momentum, a point on which the mid-paced Slayer elements satisfy much more. The prominence of bass in the mix, as well as several high-profile bass solos, also rather muddies the overall sound, leaving the heavy dose of riffs less cutting than thrash fans would like.

The unfortunate fate of Meat Grinder is that it doesn’t contain many memorable songs, aside from the blatant Slayer riff-off of ‘Assaulter’, the slightly original ‘Dead End Siding’, and the horrible puking sounds that open ‘Bestial Vomit’. For now, it’s advisable that Assaulter slow down, think of some riffs of their own, and take some classes in singing, or at least pronunciation.


Originally written for Metalegion #3 - www.metalegion.com