Wow! 'Extremophile' is beautifully packaged! That is if you enjoy about really old shool autopsy pathology schoolbooks and morbid old drawings. The first impression is always important, even though the music does the talking. I expected grindcore, because of the graphics and the band's name. However, Liverpudlians Neuroma play brutal and technically competent death metal. I'm more at home with it.

And what a driving force does it embody! While the band are brutal and precise, they also possess frenzied groove. Neuroma's take on death metal consists of US style action, but Carcass and Cancer influences are obvious, if not well-trodden. Some riffs feel "jokey", some gory. Neuroma aren't "music institute technical", but bloody able no matter how you look at it. However, the compositions themselves aren't very catchy, at least not during the first few spins anyways. The compositions include twists and turns, but the band never seems to drift into erroneous paths, at least not for a long time. Mainly, the pace is on the faster side, but at times it's time for slamming.

The guitars are everywhere for the most of time! There's a lot of lead guitar work to be heard, even all kinds of small snippets every now and then. The rhythm guitar tone is a bit tame; it simply does not bite and render a listener, even though there is nought fault in playing. Surely, when listening to this with headphones help to dig out all those smaller details, which are aplenty. The fantastic drums too are everywhere, but at least they pack a good amount of punch, both in playing and soundwise. I should add, that the bass is somewhat insignificant in the mix, even though it's there. The vocals are mainly low growling, and spat with enmity. Carcass-esque stertors bring in some nice variety, among other things one can hear on death metal records.

But the catchiness does not lay in a riff alone, now does it? No it does not. The lyrics are one of the more interesting bit about the album. The song titles have some humour in them, but the lyrical world of Neuroma is a true treasure trove! It is filled with both true and imaginary sick stories. Misogynist killers, paedophiles, a guy hunting cyclists with his car to ram 'em, school shootings, dubious foodstuffs... But I ensure you, these guys know how to tell a sick and funny stories with style. When the lyrics read "dog noises", the vocalist barks. That's the humour you'll find here. Here's a verse from 'Semi-Skinned Milf': "Now then Auntie Margerie, one thing I have yearned to see. It may come as quite a shock. Your skinned corpse on my cock." Yeah, there're loads of sexual disorder and gore, but also some takings of an attitude. There are samples, but quite infrequently and when happening, short yet effective.

With 'Extremophile', Neuroma show how to devastate. Playingwise, that is. There are other traits, too, lifting the band above the grey masses and masses of death metal bands, but I crave for a tad catchier music, or should I put it, more compelling. There's hoping, then.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/07/2012 13:01