Fans of hard-hitting melodic death metal are in for a treat as Germany's Mindreaper gears up to premiere their latest music video “The God I Am” as a powerful prelude to their highly anticipated album “Withering Shine (...Into Oblivion)” set to drop on December 2nd, 2024 via Death Age Records.
Grindcore/hardcore hybrid Escuela Grind have been making a name for themselves through constant touring and consistently punishing records like their 2020 debut Indoctrination LP and 2022's Memory Theater. As the band tackled issues faced during the pandemic, along with lyrics soaked in political unrest and divisiveness, the band toured and barraged the listeners with aggressive, pulse-pounding and high-octane beatdown grindcore. Even getting legendary Napalm Death front man Barney Greenway to guest on the song "Meat Magnet" off their DDEEAATTHHMMEETTAALL EP. Now, with better production, a more determined and ambitious direction, the band is set to release their new album Dreams of Algorithms. Does the band deliver another sonic assault of hardcore, grindcore and overall thrash with their third album?
Album opener "DOA" opens with pummeling guitar and drum strikes with Katerina Economou delivering some deep, barking/guttural vocals. Drummer Jesse Fuentes just blasts right behind her as the riff chugs along in succession. The guitars of Kris Morash, mixed with bassist Justin Altamirano undertone, really fills the mix amongst the consistent chugging. Moments of hardcore you'd get off a Madball track shine before the halfway mark, into the hanging distortion at the halfway mark. Altamirano builds with an ominous bass piece before the breakdown kicks in hard and heavy. I love the closing of a brutal, mid-tempo chugging breakdown with blasts right underneath it into the close.
"Always Watching You" continues with the opening drum/guitar stabs. The verses section has a nu-metal sound off Slipknot's self-titled debut in the guitar playing and groove of the drums. I was bobbing my head along with every snare hit Fuentes played. The main riff of the song is so heavy. Creating that mix of grindcore/goregrind groove, into a heavy, palm muted heavy metal riff. Then transforming into hardcore-esque breakdown. Economou has such a commanding bark of a voice. Mixing perfectly with the mix of hardcore at certain parts, and death/grind on others.
"Constant Passenger" is next and features Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain. I love the 2-step drumming of the song. That constant barrage of drums and guitars really creates a mosh-pit starting aggression in the mind as the song progresses. Bennett's part, with his vocals, really adds that pummeling brutality. Especially when Economou joins in before Fuentes starts blasting and the rhythm section cranks up the intensity. The slow-downed simplicity of the guitars on the breakdown INSTANTLY gave me that stank-face vibe as I slow headbanged along to that section.
On "Moral Injury", we begin with a very sludgy opening guitar riff, interspersed with tempo changes and build ups/slow downs. Adding a doomy aesthetic to the hardcore tenacity that the band has been delivering so far. Fuentes' double bass comes in harsh and relenting amidst the metalcore-esque guitar playing of the track. Heavy in nature, brutal in its attack, and breakdown heavy throughout, I can picture this song be added to a ton of gym/workout playlists.
"Concept of God" and its piercing distortion kicks into driving drums as the pace speeds up/slows down. Altamirano & Morash are just constant riff machines throughout the song. Hitting all the marks on when to play with the speed and pacing of the power and drive of the song. Economou sounds furious in her delivery, especially when there is a call-and-response feel on the chorus. The tempo change into the bridge at the halfway mark really hits hard, especially with her yelling synergy, that section went HARD. Altamirano's bass as the song comes to a conclusion with one final breakdown just was such a good closer to the track as the band joined in. With an almost thrash/crossover opening riff,
"Animus Multiform" channels that 80's aggression you'd get from acts like Hirax and Exodus in the bounce of the riff. The punk mannerisms in the delivery, combined with the high-impact drum and guitar combo is a nice touch to that section. Even the sway-like effect of the guitars adds a pit-intensifier effect to it. Especially with the build-up at the halfway mark. With the drums slowing down to REALLY let that riff's nastiness hit hard before the tempo and pacing switch-up. Also, a nice guitar solo by Morash on the track.
"Scorpion" really channels that Cro-Mags and Throwdown like opening riff. Drums have flurries of double bass as the riff just hangs at certain parts. Economou's throat shredding delivery of the song's title is just chef's kiss perfect as you really hear the grit and distortion in her vocals on that section. The song's heaviness amps up at the halfway mark. Showing the band's grindcore roots and punctuality that would make any Napalm Death fan happy with their playing at that section.
The bouncing, follow-the-ball guitar playing opens "Planned Obsolescence". With war-like drumming behind it, adding to the bounciness and groove of the riff. I can picture people in the crowd bouncing their heads along with the guitars, even as the pacing speeds up and then comes to a half-time pace. Breakdowns are the band's forte throughout this album, and they are done very well with the transitions and surprise variants when they come out. Fuentes again shines on the kit throughout the slowed-down guitars and pick-ups throughout the song. Adding that anticipation of "are they gonna blast?" "we slowing down?". Keeping the listener on their toes with that anticipation.
"Toothless" really has that sludgy, dreary opening guitar riff that Crowbar perfected and patented. The slowed-down, dirge of a riff, intertwined with drum flurries really mixes the style up a bit. Create that brooding, dark atmosphere and shows you don't have to play fast to be heavy. Until the drums change that and the band is off to the races with the intensity. A nice mix-up from the punishing and fast-paced grindcore nature throughout the album.
The album's closer "Turbulence" opens with a heavy as hell riff with guitar slide into a heavy drum opening. Economou actually sings in the opening verses, before turning into her trademark deep growl vocals. As blasts from Fuentes and the rhythm section continues the bounce of the riff. Mimicking some of the sludgy elements from the previous track. With the song closing out with more Economou hopping between sings and growls as the drums blast away and the riff hangs in certain sections. Economou delivering an almost bat-like shriek before one last growl as the album comes to a close.
Photo Credit: Ras Visuals
Overall, Dreams of Algorithms was a consistent record from the band. Moments of beatdown hardcore, mixed with chaotic grindcore, showed the band still has that tenacity and vigor that got them where they are. Although, for me, there was just something missing from the songs. I don't know if some of them became formulaic in nature to me, or predictable in some way. I liked the harshness in the vocal mix off the band's last album Memory Theater and I wonder if the cleaner, production and mix might be taking off some of the band's edge on these songs. Either way, Dreams of Algorithms is a great album to let your aggression out to.
SCORE: 8 / 10
1) DOA
2) Always Watching You
3) Constant Passenger (feat. Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain)
4) Moral Injury
5) Concept of God
6) Animus Multiform
7) Scorpion
8) Planned Obsolescence
9) Toothless
10) Turbulence
FFO: Brat, Throwdown, Full of Hell
The band is about to embark on a North American tour with support from For Your Health and Wisdom & War. If you want to see the band live, you can get tickets here.
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