Entomophobia, the phobia of insects of every kind, a sort of word that makes one think of unholy perversions and heretical acts. Considering the lyrical content, I think this name is perfectly fitting for the great EP by United States based Progressive Death Metal outfit BOREWORM. In fact, they even listed it as insectile Death Metal on their band camp, a term I am sure many will revere and light heartedly joke about (*cough* Pornogrind *cough*). Delivering 20 minutes of crushing death metal that is quite well made, without further ado I will just dive right in.

Opening with the track "Synapse", you quickly discover that this isn't a band who likes to ease into a song. Featuring some great dissonant beats and riffs and lyrics that make you wonder if you are actually listening to a death or black metal band, my only complaint at this point is audio quality and mastering that could use some work. The drums a bit off, almost too metallic for lack of a better term. Towards the middle of the song, the more progressive elements kick in, featuring greater melody and a more gradual drum beat. However, while a nice touch there comes to bring back the dissonant qualities very abruptly, and in this part they feel more lack luster and kind of thrown in. Almost like a way to extend the song. Regardless, a well-made song nonetheless. Following this is "Esoteric", which continues the bloody beats but this time sounding far more structured and less dissonant than before. Here the progressive elements are far more visible, especially from the middle onward (enter the oft joked about bridge/guitar solo that starts a third of the song in and continues to the end). It is well made, but a bit repetitive for the last 4 minutes of a 6 minute song to be so similar. The band has the melody down, but I think better variation would have done well for the song.

"Vile Husk" is somewhat strange to describe. I found the opening incredibly well done, a great and balanced blend of Prog with the more brutal aspects of Death Metal (barring some somewhat breakdown intensive aspects of the very beginning) but as it dragged on it became somewhat bland. You somewhat kind of fail to notice differentiation in the song as it goes on. Thankfully, "Entomophobia" helps you to forget this. Undoubtedly the highlight song of the EP, here the transitions between both aspects are much smoother, and overall the melody of everything blends much more clearly together. Even in the death oriented aspects there is a well maintained and structured direction. There are some rather brilliant riffs to that one can easily get lost in while listening to, especially the gradual and melodic fade out of the end. While the strength of the song falters in some parts near the middle, this is easily forgettable when viewing the song as a whole, which is a great song at that.

To summarize my thoughts on this EP as a whole, it had a direction that seemed clear but become a bit muddied and fell short in execution. It has plenty of potential and I cannot wait to hear what this band releases for their first full length album, and considering it is only their second EP and that their only other release is a single, AND that it was independently released it is a very strong EP. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Prog Death.