In terms of intelligence, Metal has some very good bands to show that good music and excellent musical ideas can get along with intelligent ideas that we can hear both in the songs' arrangements, and in the lyrics. But there are some that take this idea to extreme levels, as we hear on the first album from the Washington based quartet XOTH, which seems to be here to affront the conservatives and to state that they are a new form in Metal. Listen to "Invasion of the Tentacube" and you'll understand what I mean.

They play a different way of what we known as Death/Black Metal. Of course, they are aggressive and truly brutal, but their musical work is based on a technical and even melodic approach (hear some of the guitar solos and you'll understand what I mean), that is different from anything you heard before in terms of this specific style. It's not usual, but excellent, sounding heavy, aggressive and new. Their music is truly amazing and charming. Even on the sound quality, their intelligent insight is evident. They prefer a dry and raw sound quality, to sound aggressive and with much defined instrumental tunes. In this way, their melodic musical arrangements can be heard clearly. In other words: for their musical identity and for what they're about, the album production fits almost perfectly.

The intelligence of their musical work is in being creative in a time where many bands prefer just to follow old models. No, these insane guys are here to lead. Their lyrics are intelligent as well, speaking about dark fantasy, sci-fi, ancient mysteries, Lovecraftian mythologies and tales, metaphysics, and conspiracies. It's not usual even in this part, and the cover of the album reflects it clearly. All their nine songs are truly excellent, but as reference for you (and to make my Editor happy enough to not cut my head off), we can say that their best performances can be heard on the excellent "Antediluvian Annihilation" (brutal, melodic and technical at the same time, with excellent tempos and great guitar duos), the aggressiveness molded by technique of "Terramorphosis" (very good contrast between the shrieked vocals and very good guttural grunts), the brutal and melodic approach of the massacre called "Transcending the Energy Harvest" and "Invasion of the Tentacube" (these guitar parts are really fascinating, using extreme melodies in the middle of the aggressive outfit of the song), the Thrash Metal influence on the tempos of "Digital Mausoleum" (very good work from the rhythmic session of the band once more), the fantastic mix between melodies and brutality show on "Ancient Sentient Ooze" (some classical arrangements can be hear on the guitar duets once more), and... Stop right there!

How can someone leave aside songs "Tentacles of Terror", "Universal Death" or even the instrumental "Consciousness Void"? It's impossible! Have no mercy of your ears and mind! Blast both with "Invasion of the Tentacube", and spread terror to your neighbors! Fuck the rest, XOTH is one of the best!