Extinction Remains: “Smog”
The latest release from Extinction Remains “Smog” is out now in conjunction with Polish labels Mythrone Promotions and Defense Records.
Review: Extinction Remains – “Smog”
It’s a compilation of Brazilian doom/death metal band Extinction Remains 3 previous EP’s, originally released between 2013 and 2017. The tracklisting sits in chronological order, tracing the bands’ developments along the way.
If Mr Teeth Reviews were to draw any comparisons to Brazils most famous metal export, then “Smog” is more in keeping with Sepulturas early days. The rawness of late 80’s “Schizophrenia” rather than the post-Cavalera brothers era.
This, in part, is down to Extinction Remains taking influences from the early black metal scene. Although, in reality, “Smog” goes far beyond that.
Constantly changing tempo, slowing down almost to the extent of falling apart, just in time to bring themselves back from beyond the grave. It’s deliberately unnerving, individual tracks can be death metal one minute and suddenly turn into a sludgy pit of doom the next.
Review: Extinction Remains: “Smog”
Human Disaster Never Ending
The ever-changing speed of Extinction Remains is particularly noticeable on the initial EP “Ecologic Noise”. Despite lasting only 7 minutes in total, the 3 tracks constantly change direction. Yet within a blink of an eye, the album soon turns your attention to the next stage of the groups back catalogue.
With “Genetics of Defeat” the band continue their assault, again mixing up the amounts of beats per minute from one extreme to another. Tracks “Dunes of Despair” and “Malnourished” are all about the drums, riffs and death metal vocals.
However, when it comes to “Silent Spring” it’s somewhat epic by comparison to the rest of the release at over 6 minutes long. Particularly doom-ridden, following the likes of Earth and Sunn O)) there are moments the tune becomes so sluggish it almost stops.
Then with the final of the 3 EP’s “Human Disaster Never Ending” heads back down the more classic death metal route. “Toxic Sludge” features a rare guitar solo, while “Cancer” has a touch of Deicide about it.
As for the albums closer, Extinction Remains continue to play with those ever-changing tempos on “Vengeance”. It’s heavy, but again you’ll find yourself slightly unsettled by the bands’ ability to change direction without warning.
While “Smog” may well be a compilation of the band 3 EP’s, it certainly works as a collective. The slightly longer numbers interspersed by those that barely stretch out over 90 seconds. If anything there’s a slight improvement along the way in terms of production, but ultimately this a fine piece of Brazilian metal.
Extinction Remains “Smog” – Out now and available to order here.
