Coscradh

The unimaginatively titled Demo MMXVI is the first recording from Irish death metal group Coscradh formed last year. The more imaginative band name translates to “Triumph in Slaughter”, fitting for a group playing this kind of music. Plumbing murky depths while delivering classic death metal riffs they’ve unleashed a hell of a first demo here.

Much like compatriots and label mates Malthusian their style of death metal is awash with a murky sound, especially on the opening track, the aptly titled Buried, with slow eerie riffs played high up the fret-board with a powerful crunch to both the guitars, the murky raw production complementing the eerie riffs and punchy rhythmic drums. Half way through the track kicks into gear with a wall of sound, blastbeats atop fierce trebly twin guitar riffage and murky yet simplistic bass, much like their other compatriots and label mates Zom. The lead guitar riffs are brilliant, high pitched and frenetic runs up and down the fretboard reminding of Degial while the rhythm guitar intertwines with the bass into a dark and toxic murky cloud reminiscent of Incantation. The vocals are brilliant, and despite the reverb applied to them and the bestial snarling approach lacking all comprehensibility, it reminds of Lars from the early and best days of Entombed, albeit over a more caustic and less buzzsaw approach to the music. Lynch and Drowned are two more speedy affairs, with the two guitarists battling each other with their Incantation and Degial-esque styles, the latter with some odd time signatures to the drums, and a solo as vicious as it gets.

Coscradh are at their best in their slower sections though, making Coscarṫaċ, the closer and the longest, the best track on the demo. Slow and dissonant riffs crackle with more of that murky crunch with barked vocals loudly over the top before the speed amps up at the two minute mark without losing any of that murky crunch and evolving from a slow and eerie start into yet another great slab of awesome death metal.

Coscradh definitely have their influences but they’ve created something really great here, applying a traditional style to the murky aesthetic that’s pervaded death metal in recent years. It’s caustic and cavernous, but also blistering, creative and fun. An essential for something who want something a bit different from the abyssal death metal scene.

Originally written for swirlsofnoise.com