Review: Strychnia - Reanimated Monstrosity

Strychnia's new EP “Reanimated Monstrosity” is easily the most impressive set of songs to come from a band of this stature. Not only is the quality extremely good but these songs hold up and greatly surpass any other band in this genre of music.

The hard hitting guitar solos, fast paced blast beats, and gut-wrenching screams that are showcased in these songs will surprise any listener that they are coming from a local-sized band. This collection of music represents a perfect execution of a thrash metal sound as well as technical skill.

One song that can speak for the band’s sound as a whole would be “War Sermon”. This song has a classic metal feel, but with a modern thrash spin put to it. It sums up the EP as a whole and really rolls the band’s sound into one song. Another song to make a note of is the title track and opener “Reanimated Monstrosity”. Not many openers can excite and immerse the listener as deeply as this one. It energizes and immediately addicts the listener to the powerhouse sound that this band brings to the table.

When it comes to criticisms…well that’s just it. I couldn’t find any. I always want to give a band a fair review from an objective standpoint and to be honest about the good parts and the bad parts no matter how much I like the band or enjoy the genre, but I just don’t have any complaints about this EP. I was very apprehensive when I saw the ending song to be a Pantera cover, but it fits in perfectly with the rest of the fluid synergy of this EP. Every song has a consistent style to it and an easy distinction.

Whether you are a thrash fan or not, this album is easily one of the best EP’s of the year and one of the best modern thrash sets out there. Coming out of a local band from NJ, this is more than impressive. From the well crafted songs to the pure mind-blowing skill that this band ties into the structure of their sound; they really bring a refreshing style to the table of modern metal. Hats off to these guys, and keep an eye out for them.

10/10

- Nic

5 Albums that Influenced Me: Kevin O'Laughlin (Strychnia)

Today’s feature of “5 Albums That Influenced Me" comes Strychnia vocalist Kevin O’Laughlin. The band are in the studio working on a new EP which should be out in May.

1. The Cleansing - Suicide Silence

This album is easily my biggest influence when it comes to music in general. Mitch is also my biggest influence when it comes to vocals. I didn’t start getting into extreme metal until I was 16 or 17 years old and when I heard this album my mind was just blown, I loved it. It totally motivated me to want to learn how to do those demonic screams. I still don’t think any deathcore band has topped this album. Although, I really don’t listen to a lot of deathcore these days. The genre has gotten a lot worse in my opinion. I’m more into Death Metal, Thrash Metal, and Black Metal these days. And a lot of non-metal lol.

2. Scars of The Crucifix - Deicide

This album was huge for me when I first joined Strychnia. Not only was I being introduced to some new extreme metal… The vocals on this album really heavily influenced some of the overlaps that I do for Strychnia. This album had a lot of low screams with high screams overlapped, and at the time I didn’t really think anyone was doing that in Death Metal. I was new to metal and I had thought overlapping was more of a deathcore thing.

3. Ashes of The Wake - Lamb of God

This album was another big influence on my vocal style for Strychnia. When I first joined the band, I was really more of a deathcore-influenced Vocalist. I needed to change it up a bit and I needed to add more variety to the tones that I could scream. I didn’t do this consciously, but I definitely used Randy’s mid-screams as a big influence for my own “mid-scream”. I think another thing that led to this was the fact that we used to cover the song “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For” when we first started playing shows together.

4. Negation - Decapitated

Mmmm… good ol’ Decapitated. Haha. BIG influence on my low screams. I love that “e” sound combined with the foreign accent. I love doing Decapiated-style low screams on Strychnia stuff. Obviously I’ve made it into my own style, but these guys and this album are another huge influence.

5. Tomb of The Mutilated - Cannibal Corpse

This album was a huge influence for me when I was experimenting with a lot of deep guttural screams. Through my learning process as a Vocalist I always wanted to have a variety of styles. I never wanted to be that mono-tone guy. Even though that can sound great for some people, it’s just not for me. I just remember practicing “Hammer Smashed Face” and “I Cum Blood” for hours trying to get those crazy gutturals down.

SUICIDE SILENCE Sign To Nuclear Blast Entertainment!

SUICIDE SILENCE are proud to announce that they have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the new division of Nuclear Blast formed by Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner A&R chief, Monte Conner. As one of the leaders of the extreme modern metal movement, it is only fitting that their new home be one of the biggest metal labels on the planet. It’s a union that is sure to bring much success to both parties in the not so distant future.

“I’ve been following SUICIDE SILENCE since their debut album and immediately grew to love their music,“ commented Nuclear Blast CEO, Markus Staiger. “I knew we had to work with this amazing band and today is the day to finally welcome one of the most brutal bands on Earth to the Nuclear Blast family. The next SUICIDE SILENCE album will no doubt push boundaries once again.“

“I am thrilled to have such an innovative and unique band like SUICIDE SILENCE as the first signing to Nuclear Blast Entertainment,” added NBE President Monte Conner. “Even though I was totally blown away by their last album, The Black Crown, I am certain the band’s best music is still ahead of them.”

Guitarist Mark Heylmun commented:

“I and all of SUICIDE SILENCE are proud to announce that we have signed a worldwide deal with the one and only Nuclear Blast. It wasn’t a tough decision, Nuclear Blast has been a huge part of heavy metal for decades and we couldn’t be happier. This is a new beginning for us and we’re ready as all hell! Let Chapter 2 begin now!”

"I am beyond stoked to be signing to the sickest of all heavy metal record labels,”  continues bassist Dan Kenny. “It has been a dream of mine since I was a youngster with Nuclear Blast posters on my bedroom wall”

North American Label Manager Gerardo Martinez concluded:

“It’s pretty amazing when you hear SUICIDE SILENCE talk about the Nuclear Blast bands they love. It puts all of us on the same level - we are all music fans here. Super stoked to be a part of history with this Californian bunch!”

SUICIDE SILENCE’s Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut is tentatively scheduled for a Summer 2013 release.

SUICIDE SILENCE's latest album, The Black Crown, sold upwards of 14,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 28 on The Billboard 200 chart.