Psychomancer: Inject The Worms

More an EP than an album, the unexpected comeback release from Indiana death metal merchants Psychomancer, Inject The Worms, may have a name that suggests some perverted game show, however it has a sound that confirms an old school death attack. Brutal, biting, bullish, are all words which fire up a clear impression of what this band are all about and yet there's a subtlety that you wouldn't necessarily expect. The vocals from Dustin Mullard are more a threatening whisper than growled garglefest, while the torrent of guitars and drums hit with a mindfulness that illustrates Psychomancer have a handle on how to take what could be simple and expected, and add a more than welcome twist.

Having released two full length albums between forming in 1998 and disappearing from the scene in 2007, the band have now been back together for going on four years, and they've put that time to good use. Inject The Worms may well have been released in 2015, but the patience between reformation and laying down new recordings has resulted in a short selection of songs showing no flab at all. Instead the tempered gallop of "Chant Of The War Demon", uncompromising spit of "Bastards Burn" and tortured grind of "Just Another Victim" are tight muscular expulsions of keenly controlled anger and threat. That the trio, completed by guitarist Curt 'Wonka' Hutchison and drummer Corey 'Pickles' Blackstad (Bullard handles bass), have the confidence and ability to introduce into what is an otherwise full on affair, "Abhorrent Wings Of Decay", where drummer Blackstad plays enigmatically dark acoustic guitar by way of introduction, before a more straight up slice of metal hints at the vintage heritage of this band, shows the eye for detail they possess. Add in that Melissa Grantham guests with some excellent co-vocals on the same track and the variety Psychomancer serve up within a tight and focused framework is impressive indeed.

I have to admit to ignorance when it comes to the early work of Psychomancer, however with Inject The Worms they've certainly returned with an explosion of quite mighty proportions.

Track Listing
1. In Shackles Insane         
2. Just Another Victim         
3. Inject the Worms         
4. Bastards Burn     
5. Abhorrent Wings of Decay    
6. Chant of the War Demons

Added: March 13th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Psychomancer on BandCamp
Hits: 1347
Language: english

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