UMUR
"Primal" is an EP release by US death metal act Entheos. The EP was self-released in March 2015. It´s the band´s first release.
Stylistically the music on the 4 track, 17:48 minutes long EP is technical/progressive death metal with both derivative and contemporary influences showing. Entheos is a very well playing act and they deliver their music with great precision and conviction. Although this is predominantly death metal oriented music, there is a strong Meshuggah influence heard throughout the album. Heavy angular riffs in odd time signatures combined with fast blasting and aggressive "core" tinged growling and screaming.
The sound production is clinical, clear, and powerful. So if you´re looking for organic sounding material/playing... move along. There´s an almost futuristic atmosphere about "Primal" that works really well for the band. Robotic, clinical, clear, sterile, and precision, are just some of the words that are valid when describing the EP.
So there´s no arguing that "Primal" is a pretty interesting and very powerful sounding EP, and there are quite a few positives to mention when rating this release. The less positive is that the tracks aren´t that memorable and that Entheos need to work on a more personal and unique sound. They wear their influences a bit too much on their sleeves for comfort, and with this amount of talent, they should be able to produce something a bit more hook laden (which doesn´t have to compromise extremity) and original. Still a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.