Attention all fans of the first half of 1990s Napalm Death! Swiss deathgrinders Kess'khtak (don't ask...) are hailing that era with their sonic violence. 'Unwritten Rules Prevail' basically is their fourth EP among splits and other short releases.
Sharp and fast guitar riffs, intense double kicking and rapid handwork drumming, pulverizing bass guitar and barked and growled vocals is the thing. The guitars often fire tumultuous tremolo picking, in a very similar way to them English legends, and of course also go into lower notes. Some of the riffs are truly catchy, but might not be up for grabs during first spins. Well, the hooks are flying towards listener like in Hellraiser movies, and are soon felt.
The drumming isn't all about double kicks all the time, but blasting is also on the menu, as well as D-beat; just check out Decapitated's 'Earth Scar' style 'Of Roaches and Rats' with its groovier outlet, which is well placed on the release for some change in its pace, as a breather. That said, most of the songs do include these groovier parts, and another band they remind me of is Nasum.
All instruments finely work together, like a well-oiled engine, as do the juggernaut-style songwriting. Add gowled and shouted vocals that are powerful. Often working in unison, they really elevate the aggression level on here. The lyrics are well written, and contain themes of mass controlling and relationships. 22-minute duration is very good for what Kess'khtak are offering, as it is intense and not really that multi-faceted. Elaborative production job aptly bolsters the music. That brings us to the bass guitar... It is well heard, amplifying the guitar.
Not at all a shoddy one for grindcore fanatics, especially for those who enjoy pumping their clenched fists to Napalm Death and Nasum. It misses something, being a tad faceless for sure, but something else? Perhaps not. Let's see how severe their next release will be. This certainly arouses anticipation.
Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
07/07/2018 13:52
