English grind/death metal band Inert started back in 1996, recorded a self-titled demo in 2001 and return now with their 2nd one.

Inert's music doesn't bring any other band playing totally similar stuff in my mind, although there's some more or less obvious influences. Sometimes guitars remind me of newer Napalm Death. There's also some nasty but deplorably faceless death metal riffage thrown in. The music is based on rhythms. There's no melodies or such for a listener to grab, but nice rhythmic works and this is where Brutal Truth comes to my mind. Tempo variations (from blast beats to tom drum beats to slow ) aren't very frequent when thinking in grind terms. Songs are also long if compared to grind ethics. Lengthy movie samples give breathing space between brutality and to tell the truth, two first songs are quite similar, at least their guitar work. 'Dawn of the Dead' sample rules, I love that flick!!! "When there's no room in hell, the dead will walk the earth." Lyrical themes circle around sci-fi and horror, if I'm right, since no lyrics followed with this promotional copy.

Double vocal assault works bloody well, for the big part. Other half duetting is very low and guttural growl is powerful and absolutely fantastic. Brutal Truth-esque manic shrieking is also good stuff as is some cleaner parts, but 'Oblivious to the Threat' has this annoying voice as the second half of the duet; sounds like someone's bloody scared or badly injured, having this panicy voice. And it goes on for the whole song...

The sound is overally very good for a demo. Recorded at The Lodge, which metal folk knows best from Paradise Lost's 'Gothic' (1991). This would sound good even on an album proper. Things that should sound heavy, they truly do it and other way around. This is very effective, pounding and ripping at the same time. Cover art is great, zombies rule! If you order the demo from the band, you get lyrics sheet and a sticker.

A brutal demo, this one. Needs some spinning to get the songs, but that might be as much positive as negative thing, right? This is filthy and ugly, rumbling and noisy, so the name might not be the best possible for the band. Labels looking for bands like that, check out Inert. Definite potential here.

Reviewed by Lane
11/25/2003 11:04