Gnawed – Despiser 3″CDR

Spit & Cuss

Released back in 2010 this isn’t actually new material at this point but it certainly does stand the test of time. Clocking in at merely 16 minutes split into four tracks this 3″ may be short, but it delivers.

Forked Tongue consists of high-pitched tones interrupted by ungodly industrial hits and punk-style screaming vocals. I really like that the distorted feedback has almost a metal-scraping sound to it, subtle but very effective. Choke has a more rhythmic backbone with pummeling hits and a similar style of feedback and vocals but delivered in a different way, a great format much reminding me of a punk style where the same instruments are played in different ways.

As a little surprise is Pure – a Godflesh cover – but merely clocking in at under two minutes. I actually enjoy a lot more than the original – with plenty of looped junk metal percussion and feedback it works very well and mixes right in with the other tracks. Will is the last track here and the longest but it’s a great closer. With more intense low-end rhythms and finally that excellent synth pulse Gnawed is so known for it’s a truly crushing track. Towards the end of the track there is some really great interactions between the synth work and the industrial loops which is the kind of thing that puts Gnawed a step above the rest.

This is an excellent disc and yet another great addendum to the Gnawed discography. There is a great punk feel to the way the different elements are used and the production is full and intense. Great work.

Composition:
Sounds:
Production Quality:
Concept:
Packaging:
Overall Rating: