Parricide can surely make some heavy noise. That's very clear when listening to their 4th full length album 'Ill-Treat'. It's one of those albums I'd love to well, love (yuck, want a pussy term!), but I just don't.

The reason for my scorn is Parricide's compositions. I've spinned this record many a time, but only 'I Feel Nothing' and 'Hammer Smashed Face' are the songs, that I can remember. Yep, the latter being a well done Cannibal Corpse cover. There's some good riffs, which stick out, but when the music doesn't stick to my mind, there must be something wrong. It's me or the music. Death metal North American way is Parricide's way. Guitars that squeal between heavy riffing (plus solos that do their best to pop eardrums), bass that cause minor earthquakes, tempos that go from blast beat to mid-paced necksnapping and vocal duets between low growling and more screamed growl. The song structures aren't easy at ll and take turns constantly. But, but, but, those killer songs missing in action. So Parricide don't want any melody, but that is not an excuse for making music that doesn't stick to a listener's brain.

Production isn't polished at all, so all the rawness and nuances are there. The band is tight and everything sounds like it's coming from hearts of these four guys. And they handle their instruments well, just listen that fast double kick drumming!

I wished for more after seeing this colourful drawn cover, which is way funnier and unique than a million and one lame computer graphics "art" covers (well, there's some bad computer stuff in the booklet here for sure). Sadly I can't say same about the music side of the album. This has been done before so many times, that brutality alone is not enough.

Rating: 4 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/18/2004 19:30