WWW.SUPREME BRUTALITY.NET - IN SUPPORT OF DEATH METAL, GRINDCORE AND GOREGRIND

GROG / ROADSIDE BURIAL / PUSSY VIBES - 3 Way Split

GENRE: Death metal / grindcore
COUNTRY: Portugal / Australia
FORMAT: CD
LABEL: Grindhead Records
YEAR: May, 2010

RATING: 5/10
REVIEWED BY: PSL
PROVIDED BY: Grindhead Records

I like split CD's. These are a nice way to check out smaller and lesser known bands. Grog is a Portuguese death metal band. The history of the band goes back to 1991, but I don't think that reflect all that much in the music. The music is run-of-the-mill death metal with some hints of grindcore. It's not bad, but definitely not very exciting either. The songs are mostly fast, but the band does change things enough so it doesn't get much of an issue. The four-piece finish off with the Nuclear Assault song "New Song". It works okay, but adds little or next to nothing to my view of the music.

Roadside Burial has changed from a two-piece with programmed drums to a four-piece with a real drummer. It hasn't made any bigger difference in terms of the style and music. It's brutal and straight forward death metal, but not the boring type. The music is fast and heavy as shit. I like that the songs are so heavy and in-your-face. It doesn't hurt either that the songs are short. The bass is audible a lot of the time. I like the thickness it has as it adds to the feel of the music. The vocals are low end growls and these fit the music just right. The four-piece doesn't do anything that hasn't been done before, but it works the way it should.

Pussy Vibes is another Portuguese band. The music is straight forward grindcore with undertones of goregrind. It's not bad, but nothing too exciting either. The songs are fast with the typical slower parts and a ton of samples for diversity. There are not many catchy riffs or parts and that does make the music seem a bit anonymous and boring. The five-piece are okay at what they do, but there's nothing here that's make the band better than so much else.

It's not the best split CD I've reviewed, but on the whole it's an alright effort. If you're looking to check out some brutal bands then it's not the worst CD to get.