WARP CHAMBER - Abdication of the Mind
Released December 7/18 (Redefining Darkness Records)
Here we have a two-track, sixteen-minute demo from U.S. death metal unit Warp Chamber, the band's initial foray into recorded works. The title track opens things here with rough'n'tumble metal of death, mixing blast and mid-tempos over which threatening gurgle vox come at you seemingly from below and guitar solos swirl about from above. The longer second track 'Harvesting the Life Force of a Crumbling Orb' (clocking in at nine minutes) finds the band once again changing tempos, busily drilling holes in your head as you partake in this punishing outing.
Kudos to whoever produced this, having successfully captured the band's earthy, grimy guitar tone ... although the vocals are buried in the mix. Gotta say that the vocals are somewhat derivative in the 'troll-beneath-the-bridge' sort of way though, so this may have been a conscious decision.
Overall, a very professional sounding demo that sends the message that Warp Chamber is a death metal band to be reckoned with in the future. They are currently preparing their debut full length, so it looks like we won't have to wait long to hear where they will take us in their next outing.
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