The latest release from Headshrinker delivers a massive and thrashing soundscape that blends different sub-dramas of metal together to create something that takes elements of hardcore, melodic metal, death metal, thrash metal, and more, all roll up into one fat record that boasts a fierce and furious approach that certainly leaves its mark.
The Callous Indifference album spans eight tracks and almost 40 minutes and throughout that course, you get brutal and uproarious riffs and guitar tones that deliver unreal sonic drive, and along the way, there are loads of surprises around the corners as these guys can switch from a slower pace and grueling undertone with vastness in its veins to a high-speed death metal thrashing session.
I definitely love the way that some of these songs come across as almost haunting and cinematic because there's so much spacious and ambient undertone in them and I dig the vibe and feel of chorus-riddled clean guitar tones with this grueling and screeching scream over them.
There are elements about this record that definitely took me by surprise and the energy level across it was definitely intense to say the least. The whole thing makes you want to go see them perform this live because it feels like more of an experience more than just an album because it's almost like the songs
I can tell you that this is one of those records that you should listen to the hallway through. It's not a record where you just listen to a few tracks and you get the gist of it.
These songs have a bit of range to them and a bit of depth, different layers, and a lot of aggressive approach.
This is definitely for people who love that thrashing metal but also love something that has a sort of gothic underbelly to it and a bigger storyline or character that it delivers and this record definitely delivers plenty of character.
Again I do also really enjoy the combination and mix of metal genres that these guys take on throughout the record and I hear a lot of that east coast hardcore, grindcore, and thrash / death metal throughout this record a lot and it takes a lot to be able to put together a record that has this much detail behind it.
You can certainly tell there was a lot of attention paid to that detail throughout the creation of the record but it never loses that character or persona that it starts with in the first place.
The record wastes absolutely no time whatsoever in terms of hitting you with a sucker punch to the gut as the very first track gives off crazy riffs and high-speed drumming that all come through pounding.
It gives you a little glimpse of what you can expect but again, you have to listen to the whole album to really soak everything in properly because there are different approaches throughout this record.
This is a record that really is a bit of an escape and for me it made me think of a slew of bands that I grew up loving and listening to but they also had their own twist on things while keeping those different influences intact.
This was a high octane, thrashing and bashing with more depth than you may be used to and more surprises than you may expect.
Make sure when you listen to this you do a nice and loud and remember where you heard it first.
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