Power of Metal.dk Review

Loathe
Lambs to the Slaughter
Rating
Style: Death Metal/Crossover
Release date: 11 May, 2013
Playing time: 20:26
 

Since the band’s inception at the turn of the millennium, Loathe has released a handful of EPs – being unsigned, this strategy has enabled the band to release new material on a regular basis. You’d think that after 13 years Loathe’s music would have eased the pace in order to keep the members’ arthritis and age-related woes in check……bollocks it has!

 

“Lambs to the Slaughter” is an explosion of energy and well-executed Death Metal. To be honest I felt that the songs’ dynamics are quite predictable for the Death Metal genre…..a barrage of riffs, fierce-sounding vocals, the occasional guitar solo, etc, etc. The thing with Loathe, however, is that what they do they do excellently, making it hard not to warm to this EP. For instance Dave ‘the Beast’ Fenech shifts effortlessly between high-pitched screams and lower-toned growls even though the mixing seems to favour the latter.

 

From the 5 tracks on offer, ‘A Glow So Haunting’ is noticeable for the melody that’s infused with the brutality, giving it a subtle In Flames slant. But the EP’s strongest composition is probably ‘Mission: Dawn’ where Loathe’s creativity and technical skills connect remarkably well.

 

“Lambs to the Slaughter” sounds like the band wants to come out of the speakers/headphones to rip the listener to shreds……pretty much like the wolf on the cover artwork seems intent on doing. Check out the video of ‘Bucketlove’ (link below) – it’s an accurate reflection of the infectious fun Loathe seem to be having in this EP.

 

Loathe ‘Bucketlove’ video-clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHlTU6tGbM


Tracklist
01. Watch The Children Prey
02.
Guttermouths
03.
A Glow So Haunting
04.
Bucketlove
05.
Mission: Dawn
Label: Independent
Distribution: Loathe @ Bandcamp
Reviewed by: Chris Galea
Date: 18 June, 2013
Website: www.loatheonline.com