California's Belay My Last deliver the goods on their debut release The Downfall for Mediaskare Records. This is brutal, at times very technical death/grindcore, full of pummeling guitar riffs, bellowing death grunts, mind-blowing guitar solos, and precision drum blasts. Similarities to acts such as The Black Dahlia Murder, The Red Chord, Despised Icon, Between the Buried and Me, Cephalic Carnage, and Cattle Decapitation can be heard here, more so as far as the type of arrangements that Belay My Last have put together, but they do have their own unique style and sound. From start to finish, there's little if any let-up, just one powerhouse track after another, as the band do their best to pound the listener senseless at every corner. If you haven't been bludgeoned by the time "Death Unto Other(s)" comes around, you will for sure have your head crushed against the wall with "Watch Your Mouth, Sweetheart", a wild & violent piece with some seriously intense riffs and a crazed vocal performance from Jason Denney. The guitar team of Ryan George & Nick Leavenworth pull all sorts of tricks out their collective bag, as the entire album reeks of undulating, brutal riffage, harmonic squeals, rakes, and lightning leads. Other highlights include "One More Foot In the Grave", "Mannequin Smile", and the complex yet murderous "Accepting Fate".
Despite the extreme nature of this music here, it's all rather melodic and expertly crafted. Fans of the above named bands would be well advised to check out this highly enjoyable slab of death metal and grindcore. Belay My Last have arrived!
Track Listing
1. Inconvenience (To a Whore)
2. One More Foot in the Grave
3. Cycles of Suffering
4. Sleepwalk
5. Death Unto Other(s)
6. Watch Your Mouth, Sweetheart
7. Cognitive Dissonance
8. Threat and a Promise
9. Mannequin Smile
10. Too Late for Redemption
11. Accepting Fate
12. Miss America
13. Downfall
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