Label - Self-Release
Release Date - 20 May 2022
Words - Chris Fletcher
Mixing extreme metal with hardcore is nothing new, but with bands such as Venom Prison, Malevolence, and more recently Heriot, the UK has a strong scene when it comes to this type of music. The latest band to join such esteemed company with their self-released debut album ‘Servants of Violence’ are Casket Feeder. Whilst previous EP, 2018’s ‘Scalps’, was a fitting title, so too is ‘Servants Of Violence’, which offers up ten rage filled tracks guaranteed to make you sit up and take note.
Although it is completely fair to say that this is a mix of Scandinavian style death metal and UK hardcore, the songs never feel like a disjointed marriage of the two. Instead, they are merged seamlessly, showing a band that are in control of their craft with a real passion for both these styles of music.
Opening track ‘To The Hounds Go The Faithful’ starts things off with a slower, suspense building riff and accompanying guitar lead that really manages to build intrigue, before picking up the pace and delivering a worthy beat down. Other notable tracks include single ‘Vulture Culture’, which really shows off the band’s dexterity when it comes to songwriting, and title track ‘Servants of Violence’, which best displays Matt Downes dynamic vocal approach whilst showing a band that are able to mix up the pace and keep things from getting stale.
Thematically the album deals with the proliferation of cults in all of their various forms, be they political, religious and even media based, and the effect this is having on civilisation at large. Cheery stuff it may not be, but it certainly offers food for thought. If you just want to bang your head, however, Casket Feeder has more than got you covered.
The riffs are plenty, the lead lines pierce through the noise superbly whilst the crushing rhythm section keeps things chugging along with thunderous aplomb. Being produced by Stu Mckay, who has previously worked with Malevolence and Ingested, has certainly done the trick in capturing the bands technical ability and songwriting without losing the punishing power these songs possess.
If this is what Casket Feeder are to offer up on a self-released debut album then, coupled with a scene that is hungry for this type of brutality, there is no telling how far the band can go. This is one album you don’t want to miss and a band you will want to keep tabs on. Then again, did you expect anything less with a name as glorious as Casket Feeder?
8/10
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