There is something about South American bands that bring an extra dose of darkness with them no matter what Metal subgenre they are undertaking. ISTENGOAT is one such band, with their debut, three-track kicker of an album "MMXII". They are described as a Death Metal band, but as I mentioned earlier, they have a darker, almost straight on Black Metal edge, with vocals that remind me very directly of one of the Metal industry's biggest prodigal sons, MAYHEM's Dead. However, the Death Metal roots are very much still there. It's a very chiselled and sculpted form of Death Metal that is highly sophisticated. Though not lacking in old school influences, the impression I get from ISTENGOAT is that they're more progressive and open with where their influences come from.

It's a very unique brand to have - one that includes jarring melodicism amidst old school riffing and beats, contrasted with a stark Black Metal atmosphere. The tone of the guitars is crisp and light, and with the veracity and ferocity with which the guitarists are churning out riffs, it creates for a very tasteful and refined Death Metal musical experience. It's not often that Death Metal is tasteful, and it takes a lot of skill to pull off refined, but ISTENGOAT seems to want to make this their signature sound.

Within the rhythm section, the drums thrive, keeping up a relentless pace with deadly precision and vicious bludgeoning, but the bass leaves a little to be desired. Compared to the other instruments, its sound is very much subdued, even though you can tell it can be as brutal as the rest. There was a short breakdown in "Pogrom" that saw the bass get its several seconds of fame, showcasing a thick and groovy tone.

ISTENGOAT is not typically memorable in the way some simple, old school Death Metal acts, but they are definitely less predictable and more interesting, with riffs that fly off the corner and come back screaming with ear-shattering shrieks. With a solid foundation in old school Death Metal, coupled with the spirit of War Metal and vibe of Black Metal, ISTENGOAT is sharp on course to be one off South America's more diverse acts.