This death metal EP is available for totally free download, and that's the only way it was released. So we're dealing with the problem whether you should give this your valuable time or not. Exterminance have released some demos, a split EP and a full-length album during their 17 years of existence, and it's nice that this free EP includes only new songs. Well, at least they are new before their next full-length album they are working on is released...

Exterminance play brutal old school death metal, USA style, where riff is the king! The riffing reminds me of Obituary; it's evil 'n' low-tuned, it can be a bit repetitive, but it's fucking sticky. At times, 'Abysmal Testimonies' enter into slamming territory. Sometimes the stuff gets very groovy, but there's also blasting for all you speed-maniacs. Vocals are low growling (a bit like Cannibal Corpse era Chris Barnes) and more screaming stuff, sometimes a few vocal tracks mixed one upon another. 'The Loss' is a weirder instrumental piece with bass, guitars and some effects. Generally, it's all about small details, pieces of finesse, that raise Exterminance to the category of interestingd death metal bands, not their uniqueness.

The sound is rough, but I guess these are "rough mixes". Sometimes, like on 'Abysmal...', drums sound like a machine, and the song sounds very incomplete. This could interest parties interested in Obituary and Six Feet Under, and similar riff-laden USA death metal, so be the band's guest and grab the goodies they are offering you for free. You could do far worse.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/14/2007 23:41