The first promos of the infamous Dutch brutal metal label Neurotic Records have reached our office, prepare for mayhem! I’m honoured with one of the two releases, namely the in 2000 formed death metal outfit Ulcerate from New Zealand. This, however, is their debut album, having seen many line-up changes and style defining moments through the years. So here’s the result: Of Fracture And Failure.

Luckily Ulcerate appears to be a band that prefers originality over sheer brutality. The band has clearly put a lot of thought in these songs, because there are some interesting twists and turns in their music. A lot of fooling around with rhythms maintains my interest throughout the entire album, while the sound of the band is that of a brutal and extreme death/grind act. I get reminded of Immolation as well, but I have the idea it is completely intended to. This combined will surely get some heads banging, I assure you.

 

The recordings are a little messy and unpolished here and there, and while some bands sound even better because of this fact, I think this band should get a bad ass producer for their next release. Ulcerate basically shows more than just potential, it is an already skilled band with some very good material. The sound that they’ve chosen is that of a somewhat more serious and aggressive version of The Red Chord (well, the Clients album), just a little faster and a little more aimed at brutality.

 

This is bound to please any fan of brutal death metal, innovative or traditional, as long as it grooves. And this shit grooves, trust me. Of Fracture And Failure is more than a decent debut album and I’m already curious to their next release.