Rating: 4.8

Country: Australia

Release Date: 2007

Record Label: Grindhead Records

Track list:
1. Kill Kill Kill 02:52 [mp3]
2. Infected Mind 04:26
3. River Styxxx 06:09
4. Prey 05:06
5. Bile Enthroned 03:55
6. Flesh Canvas 05:43
7. J.H. 04:40
8. Into Oblivion 08:00

Total playing time 40:51

Band Website: Guild of Destruction

Guild of Destruction - Into Oblivion

Kiz - vocals
K - bass
Xav - drums
Luke - guitars

If Monty Python reunited w/ the sole intent of putting together a joke Death Metal band together then chances are Australia's own Guild of Destruction would certainly be the result. Basically, listening to this entire outing is akin to sitting through one of those really baaad straight to VHS horror movies you might have made the impulsive mistake of renting. You know the kind of I'm talking about. The type of movie that despite however shocking or brutal the taglines on the box made it seem it actually turns out to be unintentionally funny. Of course, between the amateurish herky-jerky camcorder cinematography, dialogue and acting that was more suited for a porno movie, and the mushy oatmeal for gore, you seem to be left wondering to yourself, "just what the hell were the creators thinking?!" Alas, 90 minutes of your life that you can never ever get back! Well, basically that was the very same feeling that creeped over me after I had finally made it through the last song. The frustrating part about it all is that yes, these gentlemen do exhibit some fine potential but all they're doing at the moment is extrapolating Cannibal Corpse, Macabre, and Skinless and in a rather Spinal Tap-ish presentation to boot. In fact, the plagiarism is so blatant that I can almost hear the deafening cries of "royalties!" being shouted in every direction. In all fairness however, if there is indeed one thing that shines through and injects some life into their songwriting it would be the overall quirky, whimsical sensibility that automatically brings to mind the likes of Macabre, or perhaps any one of the number of acts on the Razorback roster. Indeed from the very moment the first song, "Kill, Kill, Kill" begins up until the very end that's what you, the listener can certainly expect.

What I feel contributes to the band's imminent downfall though is their guitarist. Granted he does a decent enough job laying down a thick, solid foundation of frantic chainsaw buzzing rhythms throughout that come across sounding like a blood thirsty power drill with a mind of its own. Yet it's his amateurish attempt at soloing that totally detracts away from the atmosphere and that leave me cringing on the spot. For instance the clunky and cliched 80's fret board tapping on the second track, "Infected Mind" instantly conjures up some of the cheesiest moments of Venom and therefore feels a bit out of place. Then there's the solo near the very end of the first song, "Kill, Kill, Kill" that sounds like a nearby toilet just backed up and needs plunging (We're going to need an extra pair of gloves for this one!!). If anything, a Death Metal band should sound fierce, intimidating like a lurking monstrosity and that usually starts w/ the guitar tones. Unfortunately I don't get that overwhelming feeling of suffocation at all from Guild of Destruction. Look to bands like Immolation, Monstrosity, and Obituary to further understand what I'm alluding to here. Word to the wise, you don't bring a knife to a gun battle, ya dig?

Interestingly enough, amidst the mid-90's era Cannibal Corpse worship of songs like "Prey" and "Bile Enthroned" there are some moments where Black Metal styled riffing is employed to give the songs a nice warm, glowing triumphant feel which had me imagining some deranged psycho admiring the aftermath of his bloody vehicular homicide rampage. Then there's the epic might of "Flesh Canvas" that eerily conjures up the spirit of Immortal but if they'd had traded in their trademark corpse paint and gauntlets for surgery utensils, farm animals, and plenty of laughing gas. Hence a nice bridging of the gaps between two separate worlds. Though sadly, "River Styxxx" sounds like a scathing parody of all things Norse performed by the eccentric minds of Cephalic Carnage. Granted that could just be the Australian sense of humor talking, but then again who knows? Of course, seeing that this happens to be only the band's second album then there's a good chance that with enough time and effort into playing shows and practicing, they may just continue to grow and mature. Until then however, I'm not getting my hopes up.

February 29th, 2007