Castrum – Mysterious Yet Unwearied
This disc opens with some sort of wind/storm sample that bring to mind the intro to Gilligan’s Island. I’m sure that is not the desired effect, but it sounded more cheesy than spooky or whatever. Then the music starts in and I swear it sounds just like the beginning of Cannibal Corpse’s “Hammer Smashed Face” for the first few seconds. After the first few moments though things fall into place a little better and Catrum begin to play their melodic Gothenburg style death metal for the remainder of album. For the most part this sounds fairly typical for the style and is really neither spectacular nor shitty. They do inject a sort of cleanish vocal at times that doesn’t really help or hinder the songs. They seem to be at their best when playing at the edge of their speed threshold, as only there do they gain some much needed intensity. Three of the ten songs are instrumentals, which I usually don’t like, but it did not seem to bother me hear. I guess the closest comparison I can think of for this band would be Cenotaph on their “Epic Rites” CD, but without the sorrowful feeling of that release. Some decent stuff here, but nothing I couldn’t easily live without. – Lance Rogers
BLOODBUCKET
Worm Gear 