If Hell is an actual dimension somewhere in this vast universe, CLERIC surely would be the clairvoyant medium between our dimension and theirs. A heed of warning: Once you enter the portal, the eternal torture immediately commences without your consent. Literally speaking, "Gratum Inferno" is a painful experience. I see no motive, all it is- is senseless slaughter and torture. It's a chaotic mess without a balance, a meaningless endeavor to declare supremacy over all mankind.

The bit of deception I did experience was the origin of CLERIC. Upon listening, I thought it was Sweden-native death metal but instead, to my surprise, they came from the U.S. One of my stigmas, Sweden-borne, are the countless death metal bands who brandish that native production sound. It is a monotonous epidemic with the vast majority malfunctioning to arise above "the artists". On top of the unfavorable probability, is how awful, "Gratum Inferno" is mixed. The bass is more audible and clearer than the guitars. The guitars sound like they are entrapped by several concrete walls from where the album was actually recorded. Honing in to the guitars is too much expended energy only to be exposed to mediocrity.

Sound-wise, they're similar to BLOODBATH but not nearly as experienced. Due to simplicity and groovy tendencies, they could also be meshed in with SIX FEET UNDER (especially since Zac Christian makes a decent Chris Barnes). As I said, the mix makes the guitars difficult to distinguish. The bass, however, is a momentary gift to the ears. It's very prominent and embracive of the goal CLERIC was trying to achieve. It's rooted in utter and ominous death. Sly and direct like in the Black Metal genre. It's enticing but also shameful that it's buried in a shallow grave (i.e. Gratum Inferno). The drums hammer down the final nail to the coffin on this quintet's debut. If it already wasn't encrypted in nonsensical obscurity, the drummer administers shocks to an already paralyzed spine. Nothing else can escape me except to say the drumming was sloppy. That's it. Sloppy and unmotivated, it's a forced requiem. The rhythm is constantly being pushed from its threshold and my head throbs trying to comprehend nonsense.

These guys live about 45 minutes away from me but I don't think that's a trip I want to make. I can't even mold an opinion about the vocalist as it doesn't meld well with the rest of his counterparts. The bass, as I've said, is the only thing that brought temporary peace to a soul that sought total oblivion in that hell. I wish I didn't step through the portal but don't we all experience a moment in life where we could turn the clock back, even for a second.