Now this is really emotional. The emotions Korum show are hate, anguish, loathing and distress. Now I'm telling you that Korum mix death metal (pretty technical) and hardcore together with some thrashy stuff, ending up being nasty and grinding with tasty hooks thrown at listeners. And no, they don't have black-dyed hair styles nor make-up, so they are not metalcore, hah. Korum definitely are hooked up with real life unlike typical artsy-fartsy Parisiens (yeah, Korum come from Paris). Korum are for real!

This is a blast from the past, even though not very far away. The only Korum I've heard out of three albums, but it's not that easy to find the latter ones. Mixing hardcore riffs with death metal (Cannibal Corpse's 'The Bleeding' [1994] era stuff is how the majority of death metal riffing sounds like) and thrash metal riffing, adding low growled death metal vox and screamed 'n' shouted hardcore ones (gotta mention that one of two vocalists does it so far that his voice cracks up! And at times one sounds like Destruction's Schmier, believe it or not!) and backing it all up with tempo-changing rhythm section doing some broken rhythms and spastic stuff, plus some jazzier shit thrown in at times, you get Korum. Okay, they do mix familiar elements, but they sound themselves enough. Well, 'Circle Is closing' sounds like Brutal Truth, but that's only plus for Korum.

So, while being technical, it's also very primal. You can hear sweat and blood flowing, and soon you can taste it too, when you've done some moshing at home listening to this. You hear the band are sincere in their work. Generally, all the songs are somehow catchy in their own way, so there's not too much digging to be done.

Soundwise this is very live, organic, yet clear. You do not have to guess what's going on, because you hear it. What I miss is more ripping guitar sound. Lyrics are about life generally (religions, relationships, living in lie and such topics). The Peter Gric artwork can't be but admired! Fantastic futuristic dystopia pictured.

All in all Korum's debut album gives you a good beating. I'm not into death/thrash metal mixed with hardcore stuff, but this shortish piece really does hit the point. Moshable, intense, sincere, brutal 'n' grinding! 33 minutes really is enough, but in a good way, because this would be lethal in bigger doses.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
08/02/2007 21:58