Vicious Structure of the Crucified

Weird bands tend to pop up in smaller countries with a bigger example being Iran's very own Breed Infection. Plenty of Iranian metal bands sure, but Breed Infection played a style of slam death metal you don't exactly see in countries like that. It was raw, disgusting, and pretty fucking brutal. With that being said, I happened to discover them on metal archives. I tend to just browse the country tab for bands and just see what kind of interesting little gems I can find. Well, with all that being said I introduce to you Goat Ripper.

Hailing from the fairly unknown Eurasian country of Azerbaijan (yeah I know right?), these guys are sort of similar to Breed Infection. They play slam death metal, and are also from a weird country that either borders middle eastern areas or is just dead set in the middle of a war zone. I genuinely don't know exactly how these guys started playing this style, and from what I can find their drummer is the only one with a couple other projects with one of them being a sludge/stoner metal project. So where exactly did these guys come from? How did they discover slam? All of these questions may never have answers, but the answer I can give is that these guys fucking rip.

These guys play a style of brutal death metal and slam that seems to be long lost at this point. The riffs are full of oldschool nuances that call back to the early 90's. The first actual track Wombgrinder is a perfect example. The play style is reminiscent of Barnes-era Cannibal Corpse while also maintaining that thick and sludgey playing style of slam. The slam riffs are often, but not frequently, accompanied by monstrous bass drops. It's good to not have these be constant as they can begin to become stale.

While the bass is nearly inaudible, the production seems to still keep a raw energy without being overly polished. The drumming is a perfect example and what do you know they're not programmed! They're abrasive and at times a lot to handle, but are also unique for this style of metal. There are a few instances even where skank beats are being played and I have to even look back to check that I'm listening to the right band. The vocals as well are a mixed bag between classic death growls and the modern style of gutturals you might find on a Cephalotripsy record, but with the riffs breaking up the monotony.

All in all, this EP is surely a gem that I wish I had discovered sooner. Although not perfect, and at times the instrumentation gets boring and sleepy, it's still a great listen. Great job Goat Ripper!