Trail of Blood

Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil is Alexandre Rodrigues' solo project, Crushing Axes, a prolific as Hell, rambunctious death groove onslaught of razor-sharp riffs and stoic tempos which take the listener on a forceful Machiavellian crusade amidst chthonian wastelands; following a couple of EPs and a dozen (!) releases, behold the most recent, Trail of Blood, which careens towards the harsher ire raising edge of the metal spectrum.

Clocking in at 33.5 minutes and comprised of eleven searing cripplers, the average track length is rather short (with the imposing albeit jaunty closer "The Spoilers Of War" as one of the longest with a hundred scorn fueled seconds reserved for "South American Prison", a penal tirade as arresting as the title implies) but this proves advantageous seeing as their unapologetic succession fiercely grips the listener in place with no where to go whilst each dutifully gets its point across by way of resounding, incessantly varying drum beats, lambasting guttural excoriations and crunchy as fuck, at times squelching guitar riffs. Opener "God Says Hate" wastes no time driving the stake home as it opens with ferocious tremolo picking backed by a maniacal blast beat and is soon followed by a super incisive, classic death metal riff which drips with venom and gore; Alexandre's gas guzzling growls increase ten fold the sonic vituperation at hand!

Lead wise, he flies off the handle on "Below Salt" amidst a furious humdinger of a backing riff; he also takes the incendiary social harangue, "Burn Everyone", to a new level. Even the equable (albeit lurid) guitar progression introducing "Trial By Combat" gives way to more six-string depredation in the form of a cranky triplet based Pantera evoking guitar riff complete with caustic trem and further slam-bashing skins. To wit, "Burn Everyone" features hazardous and cool Dimebag Darrell (RIP) style bends as well as a brief fandanglin' lead wind-down.

Worth noting are the guest vocals of Jairo Vaz Neto on "In the Path of Death", Glauber Rico on "Trail of Blood" and Luiz Artur on "Commotio Cordis", which, if I'm to place credence in my by-now rattled n' embattled brainpan, is expunged in Portuguese - a welcome innovation to say the least. Note the uncharacteristically wonky and warm pentatonic soloing on "In the Path of Death" or grisly slapdash choppiness of "Fire Throne", Fans of Obituary, Overkill and Witchery, take stock!

While I found Rodrigues and Nato's growls somewhat similar, Rico's for his part are a lot more demonic and scathing - although scattered somewhat. In any case, the title track is slightly edgier with definite thrash elements tossed about, from squealing licks to lumpier drumming, including a warped, effect infused solo which lends a nice robotic element to its catatonic madness. Good stuff.

Horse galloping rhythms make up the "lingua mater " track which is "Commotio Cordis"; Artur for his part - and I know this is a cliché but forgive me as I'm a death metal greenhorn - gives the cookie monster a good run for his money as his vocals are easily the throatiest of the bunch. The guitar squiggles and arcane leads do a good job of peeling the paint off the walls and I must say, at this point I didn't expected the slick drum ride pattern capping things off. "Deathcult", for its part, rawly (and wryly) makes up for its pedestrian title as the musicianship here is anything but; dig its killer double-bass drum kicks and unyielding face-grater of a riff!

Call me soft but this type of bellicose and bilious bellowing compounded by virulent instrumentation isn't usually my cup of tea. Nevertheless, Crushing Axes' Trail of Blood is perfect for those on the warpath; in my case, inadvertently locking horns with my eighteen (recovery house) room mates. Yessir, it's a great way to curb unduly warranted contumely (i.e. verbal derision and scorn). Pleasantries aside, a tip of my scrunched hat goes to Mr. Rodriguez and his part-time minions for providing such a conducive - albeit trenchant - outlet for my wrath (play it loud!).