Nessun Urlo Nell'Ombra

I love days like today. Not only everything went well and I made all my plans into reality but I’ve chosen Lacerater as background music to do so. What’s good about those guys? Why them? Why do I need background music? Well, here it goes.

Lacerater is a very promising band from Bologna, Italy. “Nessun Urlo Nell’Ombra” is a four song mini CD, clocking around fourteen minutes, crammed with death metal with some grind and hardcore bits thrown in for a good measure. All songs are well written, with riffs that are very memorable, lots of grooving and some catchy hooks. Solid song structures, variety in tempo and very juicy sound that reminds me of few Swedish bands from the eighties. There is even a brief solo, but unfortunately only on one song. Drumming very solid with some blast beats and double base of course. Burping bass attack also well performed and quite interesting. All instruments recorded, mixed and mastered with highest quality, making listening experience of this material very enjoyable. Brutal death metal rarely sounds so good on a first demo or mini CD. Lyrics are entirely in Italian, but with vocalist’s deep growl, low grunt and some screaming, it may have been in any language and would still send shivers down my spine. Reminds me of Glenn Benton when he growls for Vital Remains, but slightly monotonous at times and little less powerful. Nevertheless still good, strong vocals for a newcomer.

And now to answer the questions: 1. very well recorded, well executed and very promising, 2. lots of potential, kick ass sound; and last but not least, 3. a little headbanging makes time fly faster when you got to do what you got to do. Another thing from the list accomplished. I love days like today!

(Originally written for www.metalbite.com)

'Nessun Urlo Nell'Ombra' is the debut demo from Italian death metal band Lacerater. They were formerly known as Lacerate, under which moniker they released 2 demos in 2003/2004, so these guys aren't exactly newcomers anymore.

...and this can be heard from good song structures that stick to a listener's brain. If you can't grab the fantastic opener 'O.S.S.A', then you must be fucking deaf! Been listening to this for the past three weeks or so and I'm trying to think of bands that I could compare Lacerater to, but I'm still empty handed. Lacerater play brutal death metal which is song-based rather than being a chaotic mess even though there's a lot of tempo changes going on all the time. Well, almost all the time anyways. They blast, they do double kick drumming, they thrash, still I could continue for some time, believe me. One can hear influences from US death metal as well as from European stuff and with a hint of grind, but generally I feel this is mostly based on old school death metal. Let's say that riff is the king for Lacerater and that's exactly how I like it. Vocals vary from low grunting to growl screaming and whatever fits in between the two. I'm not willing to comment on lyrics as they are all Italian. Even though you really wouldn't hear it, I presume....

What I like most about 'Nessun Urlo Nell'ombra' is how it sounds. It's all very organic, not triggered, nor otherwise technologically-mutilated, soulless death metal production. I love that flapping bass sound, the bass being generally the element I miss on many a death metal (or metal album in general!!!) album. Guitars are shredding and the drums are punchy. Listen L-O-U-D!!!

You can get a pro-printed version for 3 Euros or you can download it for free with artwork included. The artwork itself is pretty eye-catching: some larval-stage thingies and pink color. A good death metal demonstration that should lead to a record deal. If not, that would be really fucking unfair.

(originally written for ArchaicMetallurgy.com in 2007)

At first I thought this was the band’s debut demo, but this is a self-produced MCD, with two demos preceding it. So I was wrong from the get go. The first thing I come to think of that sets Lacerater apart from the crowd are the lyrics, which are solely in Italian. I have no clue as to what the hell they’re going on about, but it’s supposedly inspired by the dark parts of Italian history.

Music wise it’s quite cunky death metal with a flirt towards old school grindcore á la Napalm Death. At times you can also detect a hint of hardcore. The tempo can switch back and forth quite rapidly, and with the diversity of the riffing it can come off as seriously old school death, as well as a more modern ultra brutal, slamming death metal. It’s quite skillfully done, and neither riffing nor drumming disappoints. At a first glimpse the vocals can sound just ultra brutal, but after a closer listen it’s evident that it’s been layered. And unfortunately it sounds a bit too digital at times. But there’s some powerful moments where it just sounds as a brutal choir.

Definitely a really great release, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary; no re-inventing the wheel. But I guess that’s a bit too much to ask for.

Originally written for www.mylastchapter.net