Rating: 8.0

Country: Spain

Release Date: 2005

Record Label: Self-Released

Track list:
1.  Legacy of Terror
2.  Existential Vomit
3.  El Reinado Del Invertebrado
4.  Days Without Light [X.P.]
5.  Angoixa
6.  Escudella Macabra
7.  Psychopatheticism
8.  Better Inside the Body Bag
9.  Matter's Sulphuric Corrosion

Band Website: Caustic

Caustic - The Horror Cult

Miguel Vidal - Guitar
Chus Torres - Drums and Percussion
Xavi Brossa - Bass
Roger Moreno - Vocals
Franco - Guitar

'The Horror Cult' is the second album by Caustic, a Brutal Death Metal band from Barcelona. In the biography perused prior to rotating the disc, the Caustic sound was described as an amalgamation of the prominent features of recent and classic Death Metal. Taking this agreeable though commonplace formula, the band is more than capable of using it to create an enjoyable intra-genre crossover album. To these ears, the equilibrium of the differing elements appears to be weighted marginally in favour of multifarious, technical phrases. Despite the ever so slightly lesser emphasis upon the straightforward, concrete rhythms, their recursions are sufficient in furnishing the tracks with a marked accessibility, thus in effect redressing the overall balance between the complexities and simplicities of the album. Rather than crudely stitching the two together in the manner of a lacklustre slamchug band attempting to further their acknowledgement by means of an under-developed ergo incongruous technical edge, or a profusely technical act aiming to inject much needed vitality into their songs with hamfisted mosh rhythms, Caustic instead interweave the pair of structural characteristics with accomplished song writing and dexterous musicianship. It is the focus with which the compositions are penned which allows the transition from multidirectional passages to solid, catchy parts [and vice versa] to occur at either a logical or an unpredictable stage of a song, sometimes undergoing the fusion of the two within a particular phase, all the while ensuring their interrelationship produces uncluttered, comprehensible music. These complementary essentials are present in varying degrees during each song, though the track that contains neither of them, "Angioxa", is extremely distinct, with its swirling, ethereal ambience acting as a buffer zone at the centre of the tracklist, ultimately becoming in its own right, a staple of the album and an enhancement of its latter half.

The constructive application of twin guitars produces plentiful dynamics and galvanises the heavy choruses as well as the accentuating salient points of the cumulatively forceful verse riffage. The importance placed on guitar solos is minimal, with the inclusion of a solitary widdle towards the arse end of the album. The contrast of the laryngeal muscle rupturing vokills lies between aggressive bellows and mangled glottic eruptions, with a diction that allows for a decent level of lyrical comprehensibility without subtracting power or venom from the suitably menacing narration. The driving rhythm section propels each track to the apex of its potential with powerful momentum of consistent flow. The drumwork comprises many deftly performed fills, much agility in the rapid operation of pounding kickdrums, plus both cyclic and semi-cryptic snare blast patterns, underpinned by thunderous, pulsing basslines.

The insightful and vivid lyrics included in the packaging discuss such topics as paranoia, mental illness, unease, cannibalism and autopsy procedure, printed atop blackened crimson graphics, augmenting the ominous atmosphere invoked by the featured material.

'The Horror Cult' recalls Disavowed's 'Perceptive Deception' album, in that it displays the same mindful, almost conscientious approach to writing effective Death Metal, one that prevents memorable song linchpins from being submerged beneath over-zeal and braggadocio when writing effective technical Death Metal. The rigorous implementation of frequent time changes, writhing breakdowns and versatile structures of course bring Suffocation to mind, or perhaps Broken Hope just prior to the total crystallisation of their technical vision. The vokills are often similar in execution to those of David Vincent, whilst the clipped, staccato drumming reminds of vintage Dying Fetus.

The standard of production is high enough to offer a good representation of everyone's input, but the insufficient bass levels at which the guitars are positioned results in a dry, slightly stolid sound that removes succulence from the songs. However, once one has had chance to become fully engrossed by the album, the disadvantages of the production are much less obtrusive.

Although Caustic bring little in the ways of far-reaching innovation and genre reinvention, 'The Horror Cult' is still a highly commendable and thoroughly likeable Brutal Death album, their sensibly bridled technical methods encompassed by the old skool mentality of writing listenable, moderately challenging and wholly satisfying Death Metal.

December 8th, 2005