The mix of Death Metal with Hardcore influences doesn’t mean that the result will be something in a Grindcore way. It means that something can remind of classic Death Metal on its prime (once acts as POSSESSED on “Seven Churches” days assumed that they had influences from Hardcore acts on their music), and sounding classic on some points is the North American quintet OPEN KASKET, as heard on “Trials of Failure”, its first full-length. Rough and aggressive, the music of the quintet is based on the use of Old School Death Metal traits with Hardcore touches, but on the second genre, there’s no orientation between Old School or younger tendencies.

It has breakdowns, harsh screamed tunes and other traits of younger Hardcore ways, as some Brutal Death Metal slow elements. It means that their music sounds intense and full of aggressiveness, young and savage, bleeding in energy. The production is focused on creating a nasty and distorted sonority that bears more a Hardcore DNA than a Death Metal one (due the nasty instrumental tunes). It’s really nasty, but done in a defined way that allows the hearers to understand what’s musically expressed by the band. It could be a bit better, but’s not bad at all.

The songs are what really matters, so there’s no complain to be done about them, as one can experience after hearing to “Ersatz (Sine Die)”, “No Value” (some Thrash Metal riffing and grunts are heard here), “Internal Threat” (very good bass guitar and drums parts, indeed), “Bruised Sprainstein”, “Should”, “Putrid Existence” (with very good slow parts and intense screams), “Defective”, “Chain Whip”, “Chemical Death” and “Ripped Up”. After hearing once, the second will become addictive.

OPEN KASKET is a promising new name, and “Trials of Failure” is a very good release, in a way that will make your neighbors complain for days!