It’s not hard to understand why Death Metal is the Metal subgenre that allows anything (musically speaking). Doom Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal and more are proofs that anything done on it is welcome. But there are tons of bands that prefer to stay into the more traditional ways possible, without being a ‘pimp Metal’ thing (or in other words, without living off what others did). Eeven besides some maturing is required, “Breathing Obelisk”, the new EP of the young Canadian band GUTVOID, depicts a promising musical work.

On these four songs, the band depicts a classic Death Metal way, in agreement with what was shown on the genre until 1991. It’s brutal and full of influences of Doom Death Metal (due the use on many slow-paced rhythms influenced by PARADISE LOST on “Lost Paradise” days and ANATHEMA on “Serenades” age), but keeping their music into Death Metal. It’s full of energy and very good contrasts, but they can dare a bit more, to get something different (they have potential for it), but are still hardened on old ways. But it doesn’t mean that they’re not good by now. The sonority is the point where they put all their classic efforts: it’s raw and putrid as the genre used to be before the canonization promoted by Scott Burns, Colin Richardson and Tomas Skogsberg. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t understand what’s being played.

It’s easy to see that on “Swamp Consumed” (fine rhythmic contrasts, with fast and slow tempos being unleashed by bass guitar and drums), “For We Are Many” (another fine set of contrasts, with good technical moments and charming guitar riffs), “When the Living Dome Opens” (fine hooks and grunts) and “Shodar” there are very good elements, and the songs could be better if they were a bit more mature that they are (and not as hardened into Old School Death Metal as they are). And they could be shorter as well. But maturing is a matter of rehearsals and shows, so the future is promising.

Again: GUTVOID is a promising name that just needs to mature a bit more (to work with a producer is a good tip for the future), but for Old School Death Metal fans, “Breathing Obelisk” is a good release.