siLLy puPPy A NIGHT IN TEXAS is a deathcore band that started in Cairns, Australia in 2010 where it released an eponymously titled demo and soon after this first EP titled INVIGORATION which was released on Skull and Bones Records. This was the only release to feature Carlos Hicks on vocals before the band relocated to Brisbane in 2013 when Rheese Peters joined in as the new screaming fanatic.

INVIGORATION is a short EP that features five tracks that slink over the 16 minute mark but in that short timespan A NIGHT IN TEXAS crafts an intricate mix of explosive deathcore rage with technical death metal ingenuity. The title track starts off with an eerie atmosphere as if the album is going to be a dark ambient space album with gurgling synthesizer noises and creepy atmospheric soundtrack type sounds but quickly the tech death guitar gymnastics begin as do the guttural growly shouts explode onto the scene.

The second track “Throne Of Lies” is even much more bombastic as it unleashes the deathcore freneticism only with techy death time signature weirdness and exotic uses of silence and syncopation but doesn’t sacrifice the core principles despite the off-kilter approach. This EP was self-produced and self-released so there is a bit of a DIY feel to the whole thing but for the extremest examples of metal such as this, it’s actually not a bad thing. For a deathcore album this one is actually fairly interesting in how it keeps things interesting. The riffs are diverse and special attention is paid to create plenty of dynamic shifts.

On the surface A NIGHT IN TEXAS may sound like any other technically infused deathcore band but it’s always in the subtle effects that makes these kinds of bands a make it or break its affair for me. As for INVIGORATION, this is really decent slice of technical deathcore that excels in diversifying the guitar works and compositional fortitude. Perhaps the vocals could’ve been a bit more varied as all as like many deathcore bands there is a call and response between two different registers of puky growls and higher goblin monster vocals. There are some nice atmospheric guitar moments as well that continue the eerie ambience of the opening moments. Not OMG brilliant but a really good debut.