Beyond Cops. Beyond God.

I normally don't bother with deathcore music. After all, it's just a commercialized, soft version of actual death metal (some say it's the ''evolution'', but after they grow up and stop wearing eyeliner, they realize it's not). But I also like to give the benefit of doubt, meaning I could be surprised by listening to some deathcore. Whitechapel play decent, enjoyable music, same as I Declare War, but let's get to the point. This is the new Waking The Cadaver album ''Beyond Cops'' (kind of funny name). The cover art is pretty ace, to be honest. It's not the typical ultra-dark-br00tal-cover-that-scares-my-parents-at-hot-topic (Carnifex, Job for a cowboy, etc), it's extremely well done.

Waking The Cadaver's pig squeals are the best in deathcore music, but since I'm no scene kid, I find that flat and boring. Luckily, they use way less pig squealing. Also I'm really impressed about the fact that breakdowns are not abused as before, and when played, they sound decent. I even dare to say they almost, ALMOST sound similar to Dying Fetus. The riffs also sound very influenced by many death metal bands; you can clearly distinguish Dying Fetus, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Zyklon, among others as a guitar influence. The tone, as usual in deathcore music, doesn't sound very heavy or brutal, but it still sounds enjoyable.

The drums... well, let me tell you the drummer has improved. Incorporating proper blast beats (unlike their previous albums, with horrid sounding blast beats), not surprising but rather decent double bass and pretty solid beats. Of course, breakdowns are still there, but the drummer manages to make them sound properly.

The vocalist sounds pretty good for a Whitechapel/I Declare War/The Acacia Strain worshipper, with very understandable lyrics and a low vocal range, although they could be improved. Again, the pig squealing is not very good, but is not incorporated that much. The low growls though, sound kind of lame, like the guy is trying too hard to sound guttural (indeed, it reminds me of Whitechapel a lot) which sounds very brutal if you're just getting into metal.

Overall, this album is a superb improvement from their last mallcore-ish abominations, but they could make much greater music by working in those details I mentioned. With a skilled vocalist, less breakdowns, less pig squealing and a little dirtier guitar tone, this would sound really brutal.