Glam Not Slam
Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy
•
May 18, 2020
The band is a parody of typical slam death metal clichés. This is the first full-length album that the band has released. Their only other release was the EP "8.1.2." back in 2014, Independently.
"Knights in Slammin' Service" starts off with a slightly slower than expected explosive melody. The speed is nowhere near where I thought it would be to start, then halfway through the song kicks in more to what I was expecting. When the vocals hit the tempo slows down, which is common and not a massive shock. No real pig squeals, which makes it better for me personally. Still have no idea on what is being said. Not a bad start.
"My Studies at the Slamming Brutal Death University" has another slow building intro, which doesn't really go anywhere to develop the song, not that anyone will care. This song kicks up the tempo a little more than we had to start off in the previous song. Its obviously going to be in the slower Slamming BDM sections compared to something like INGESTED would do.
"Some Kisses" is more fluid in its sound. The tempo is set well from the start of the song. The melodies are more of the old school Death Metal sounds, which is good to hear. The song blends in together better, it has less of a stop-start approach, which allows the song to build up and be executed better. The tempo is similar to what I'm sure many have heard churned out in this subgenre, which sometimes takes points away from the song, but it is pulled off very well, even when the slower sections towards the end kick in.
"8.1.2. and Life (Pitriffs Gone Wild)" sounds more like a song on Hate by THY ART IS MURDER to start off with. Once the vocals hit the direction does change somewhat, slowing down again and less aggression. The screeches work to pull it up through another gear, but it feels more tired than the previous song. The aggression does return in the second half o the song, but it makes you wonder why it had to go away. The tricks are already beginning to repeat themselves.
"I Bless the Slams Down in Africa" has a funny start to mimic TOTO in the band's own way. It does actually begin to build well. The tempo is raised and doesn't slow down too much with the introduction of the vocals. It's a mix up of styles we have heard so far, but it ends up creating a new, different style in the melody. It's a stronger song to help break up the overall album sound.
"10,000 Slam Thots (in One)" continues the attack from the previous song, albeit a bit slower with the melody and tempo. The song doesn't have the edge the previous one did, which does start to show as the tempo slows down after the midway approach. The lack of changes shows a lack of creative ideas in the album, just as it was seemingly trying to shake things up.
"Overnight (Slammin' Brutal Death Metal) Sensation" takes the previous point and tears it up. This one is more intense; the tempo is more fluid and better. The aggression is back to the heights we have heard before making this one the better songs on the album, it doesn't change too much about the overall feel, but its amazing what a build of tempo will do for a song and an album.
"Pour Some Pitriffs on Me" does not have a mimic to DEF LEPPARD, which I think could have been funny. The song is the first 45-seconds full of high tempo melodies that will fill any pit, but then it massively slows down and picks up half the pace in quick succession. This second (just over) half doesn't really seem to go anywhere. Its random as fuck.
"No Ghey Black Metal! (Only Good Shit)" ends this album with some crazy-ass, seemingly Black Metal screams, which is kinda relevant to the title. It builds up slowly, more of a Funeral Doom pace, except with the vocals. It soon speeds up and loses it own style it had just made. It's still a bit slow and although flirts with the additional aggression it doesn't really expand on anything we have not already heard.
Slamming Brutal Death Metal is a tricky genre, its basically marmite. You either hate it or love it. The songs can be hear to get into if you're expecting a lot of changes in the songs overall and in the album overall that you would get in other subgenres of Death Metal. What you get here is half mental-paced songs that will open the pit up with its tempo and aggression, and the other half seems a bit monotonous and dull. Overall, its good, but its not for everyone.
7 / 10
Good
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Glam Not Slam" Track-listing:
1. Worthless Intro You Will Skip (Instrumental)
2. Knights in Slammin' Service
3. My Studies at the Slamming Brutal Death University
4. Some Kisses
5. 8.1.2. and Life (Pitriffs Gone Wild)
6. I Bless the Slams Down in Africa
7. 10,000 Slam Thots (in One)
8. Overnight (Slammin' Brutal Death Metal) Sensation
9. Pour Some Pitriffs on Me
10. No Ghey Black Metal! (Only Good Shit)
Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy Lineup:
Andrew Sutton - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Nick Scott - Bass Guitar
Mike Simon - Drums
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