Time Signature Under twin suns...

Genre: death metal

Released in August, Piling Up is the fourth full-length effort by Swedish death metallers Those Who Bring The Torture. The band was formed in 200, apparently as more of a grindcore outfit, only to split up in 2010 and reformed in 2012 with only one original member. This is a band that I am not really familiar with, so Piling Up is my first exposure to this band.

Not having heard their previous releases, I have no frame of reference and comparison. However, the album at hand is more in the vein of death metal with a melodic twist than all out grindcore. The grindcore elements are definitely there in the form of blastbeat sections and Napalm Death-ish aggression. However, it is death metal that takes the central place as heard in the crushingly heavy and Cannibal Corpse inspired title track or 'Through The Aeons', which combines d-beating crust influences with old school death metal riffage and blastbeats. 'In Orbit' similarly offers up old school death metal carnage, but combines it with melody and hints of groove, while 'Lifesucker' is another all out death metal attack, revolving around a compelling stomping drive. The melodic element, interestingly, is primarily reminiscent of melodic black metal and not so much typical melodic death metal, which is definitely refreshing. Not surprisingly, the guttural growls and screechy screams – which constitute another grindcore element – suit the music quite well.

Overall, Piling Up is a very good death metal effort which should appeal to fans of death metal and melodic black metal alike.

(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)