siLLy puPPy
HYMN FOR THE TORTURED was an extreme metal band that formed in Tamuning, Guam in 2006 and existed for two years before disbanding. The band managed to release two EPs in that time beginning with “Carcass For The Feast” in 2007 and followed it up the year later with this sophomore release EVERY NIGHT’S ANOTHER HORROR.
This EP features five tracks like the first but runs a bit longer by extending past the 25 minute mark. The sound is also similar to the debut with a focus on the melodic death metal from Sweden with influences from bands like In Flames and Soilwork along with a frenetic black metal crossover style reminiscent of Anaal Nathrakh. The deathcore elements of go for the brutality jugular are also omnipresent as are the symphonic ambient keyboard elements that maintain the melodic underpinning during the riffing chugfest.
The tracks also have nice breakdowns that offer the entire band to focus on melodic sweeps with virtuosic guitar solos much in the vein of Necrophagist. The vocal tradeoffs of the deep guttural growls along with the pig squeals pretty much follow the same formula as the debut and occasional piano rolls offer moments of downtime from the otherwise bombastic incessant metal rampaging. Overall the compositions are a bit less brutal as the keyboards seem to dominate a bit more as the band falls into line behind the melodic touches however the brutal elements are still as bombastic as ever.
Basically EVERY NIGHT’S ANOTHER HORROR is just a more refined example of the debut as the elements presented have become more integrated and the keyboards are allowed to do more than just serve as a background hum providing the melodic underpinning. On this second EP the melodic touches are also very much delivered through the guitar, bass and drums. I think i prefer the debut a bit more but this is some quality melo-death with interesting influences from the world of symphonic black metal and the world of deathcore. Too bad these guys didn’t stick it out. I rather like the unique approach here.