Ashen

At first sight, this band seems to be a fairly accessible death metal band that may be leaning too much towards other genres, but this is a false expectation when Ashen immediately blows you away. The prominent aspect of this record is the sandpaper guitar tone, which is surely influenced by bands like Entombed and Dismember. In spite of this, the production is rather clear and very treble-heavy, presenting a sound more akin to powerviolence or grindcore that definitely adds a raw attitude to the music, catapulting the already hyper energy even further. Each track is relentless, with low, barked vocals that are present throughout almost the entirety of every song, proving that The Scum doesn't waste any time in getting to the meat of their songs.

But what makes me enjoy this record more than any other generic death metal release out of the hundreds of thousands that exist? Customarily, death metal is all about impact and sheer momentum; being able to show off clean and memorable riffing while at the same time representing consistent songwriting and a tenacious performance as a band. The Scum pull this off, not perfectly, but very effectively.

Essentially, each song has its share of quality moments without feeling too rushed or too long-winded, it's a perfect showcase of some very good, excessively heavy chugging riffs as well as technical proficiency without creating musical stagnancy by relying on too much of either of these styles. It's a great record with ripping tracks like Premonition, Devoured Alive, and the venomously tight title track.