voila_la_scorie
Of Hatred Spawn is a tech death band formed in 2017 by brothers Remy Tartaglia (guitars, previously from Unbidden) and JJ Tartaglia (drums, from Skull Fist). Their self-titled album is their only release and came out in December of 2018. The band is heavily influenced by classic death metal but also includes many aspects of modern extreme metal: low-tuned guitars, blast beats, odd time signatures, and brutal growled and raw, shredded vocals. The band has released three promotional videos for their album.
While it’s pretty typical for a modern death metal album, there’s no denying the ferocity of the assault of the band’s music. It’s pretty thick with heaviness and alternates between blasting rhythms and slower, ponderously heavy riffs. The alternation between the deep, guttural vocals and the shredded vocals, and their frequent combination for a kind of brutal death harmony vocal effect keep the vocals of interest.
Honestly, I find it difficult to search for more descriptive words or a deeper analysis of this album. But some points I appreciate is that even though the music is sometimes technical, it won’t knot your brain. Even though it sounds like yet another brutal death metal album, I find each of the tracks slake my thirst for really heavy, aggressive metal. Though they don't offer anything different (like saxophones for example), Of Hatred Spawn manage to hit all the buttons.
The sound is really good, too! Not overly squeaky clean but not two-dimensional and dull or muddy. Very simply a great feel-good death metal assault. And when I say feel good, it’s through a black eye, swollen cheek, fat lip, blood on the teeth, broken jaw kind of feel good. With an album like this, it’s tough to pick a favourite track, but I’ll recommend watching the video for “Nest of Vipers” and crank the music.
The one curious thing is track 7, “Overture” which is an instrumental composed on keyboards - synthesizer piano, synth vocal chorus. Most bands would have started the album with this and the track seems to cut off at the end. As I’m listening to the Bandcamp download, I have to wonder if this is not track 1 on the CD, which has not arrived yet.
Curiosities aside, this is a very excellent serving of death metal!