Absolute Defiance - Systematic Terror Decimation CD Review

Add Your Review

2004-08-18 : Calvin Raspatul : Link
Raspatul is a band from Singapore that was formed in the late nineties. Since their origin they've done many gigs, as I'm told, and they built up quite a reputation in their country. They have been featured on the "Storm Of Nebiula 2002" and are said to be a promising band, so you reckon now that I was curious to hear their music of course. When I put on their debut mini (which lasts about as long as a standard full length of a death metal band nowadays!), entitled "Menghitung Ajal" (which means something like 'Counting Death'), to get a first impression, the first track offered some standard and semi-tight deathrash that didn't made my heart pump faster or slower. After some investigations in their booklet I learnt that this was just the intro to their mini and let me tell you that their music isn't quite like their intro. Very energetic, enthousiastic and (depressive)melodic death/thrash, both equally present, sometimes one dominating the other (and I think that thrash has an overall domination!), completed with black metal influences at times, doom influences and an overall feel that take you back to the beginning of the nineties without losing grip on the present, as they also include lots of influences from present bands. Oh, and they've got a rather cool high pitched scream combined with a low grunt as vocals. With a steady basis in up-speed beats they vary a lot with lots of slowed down parts, dragging parts, on occasion high speed drumming and all that's in between. The music is aggressive of nature, with thrashy riffing and cool solo's, but the band is also clearly influenced by melody and the more, at times, melodic-sounding thrash bands from Scandinavia, so you'll also hear quite some melody and melody lines in their music, either revelating, sad, depressive or mystical. Raspatul also includes lots of sphere-variation from aggressive to angry to happy to sad to eerie; they're very good in expressing their message into their music. Another good thing that I like about this release is their way of writing music. Take all the before-mentioned, and add that they managed to write some creative songs with parts that stay in your head, even after one time of listening. Just take the chorusline of their second track "Scraped Torn Flesh" and you'll know what I mean, and there's much more of that! Thén I'd have to mention that, allthough this band has many influences, I can't pinpoint them to a certain band or style, which means they did a job well done in sounding refreshing on a certain level and not as yet another band. They also play their music tight enough and the production is of a good quality too. One point of critisism might be that they've got an ugly bandlogo, haha, but about the five songs on this release I have nothing to complain and I like this release very much! With bands like this thrash is sure to make a good comeback all over the world. Good job guys! People who are interested to hear some cool melodic and aggressive deathrash from Singapore just send $6 (including postage and packing, also a nice price I think!) to their contact address. You won't be dissappointed!

Review taken from Vampire Magazine (Holland)