Richard HolmesCulture Killer – Throes Of Mankind (Metal Blade)
Genre: Metallic Hardcore
Florida’s Culture Killer may be relative newcomers, but they pack the punch of seasoned vets… and Throes Of Mankind certainly comes out swinging.
The band’s first full length pushes the intensity levels into the red, right from the abrasive, multi-paced opener Blindfolded Death to the album’s pitch black conclusion, Inhuman Nature – so much so that you suspect Ian Campbell was close to bursting the veins in his temples when he recorded his vocals.
The quintet occasionally resort to dull, unimaginative bludgeoning – tracks like Flesh Empire would be better without the slow-mo chugging – and their songcraft in general needs sharpening up, as few songs leave a mark after their initial impact.
However, it’s difficult not to get sucked into Culture Killer’s violent whirlpool of savage riffs and vicious rants when the likes of Justice for Retaliation or Sub(stance) are unleashed. And while Throes Of Mankind isn’t the classic debut we hoped it might be, it still puts the Daytona Beach boys on the right road.
Expect bigger things in the future.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 6.5/10 Manning-up