Terror Throne - Death is the Cleanser
March 22 2008 at 02:03:10 AM
Terror Throne takes its name from creator Robert Campos’ early 90’s print zine (later renamed
Pagan Pages and finally discontinued in 1996 when the present act was begun). Campos remains Terror Throne’s only permanent member—still unusual for Death Metal based music—handling all instruments (sans lead guitar) while recording intermittently at his home in Chicago, Illinois.
Because of this, results are expectedly mixed, but while still in its creative adolescence the “band”’ is a rare find that follows through with a raw, uncompromised album caring little for rules and conventions. By influences foully consumed and expelled, much of
Death is the Cleanser slips past the first few listens, its labyrinthine contours plastered in a nauseating, phlegmatic spew of bilious green gurgles slicked by (im)melodious trills recorded a second or two out of synch, knotting into each other while weirding through a style both unique and alienating in its discord.
Drums are dodgy at best, and their lack of dimensionality hinders their ability to carry Campos’ more explosive fits of manic-yet-brilliant guitar work. As this momentarily relents, however, breaking down into wandering arpeggiations pocked by ugly thumping bass lines, the beat settles into exhausted moments of blackened, fog-laden remove that top a fascinating, even privileged exploration of chaos. Highly Recommended.
[Todd DePalma]
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