Sometimes, names of genres aren’t useful to define what a band is playing, because it’s common for some to make their own lectures on a defined musical genre. One fine example: Black Metal already existed on the turn of the 80s to the 90s, but the lectures offered by new bands from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greece, UK and others represented a new life to the genre, and not something ‘more-of-the-same’ that was already done. And maybe the work of the North American quintet TORTURERS’ LOBBY (hailing from Tampa) shown on “Deadened Nerves” could be reflecting such thing. The band worked with Dwane Nihiser (sound engineering) and J.L. Nokturnal (mixing, mastering) on the studio, and the sonority is putrid.

According to the quintet, the album was recorded and mixed under heavy difficulties in early 2023, what explains the putrid approach on the sonority. It’s not a total waste, but their music deserved a bit more. The music shown on the album is a mix between Black/Thrash Metal ways with some Hardcore and Death Metal influences, creating something with differences from the usual model (imagine Punk/Hardcore parts into such mix on some moments, as heard clearly on “Captured Pieces”) and even some nasty melodic sense can be heard on some moments (as on decaying and funereal moments of “Reaper’s Impunity”). The more one listens, the easier will become the understanding of their musical ideas, and besides the sonority can disturb things, one can be sure: these guys are a promising name.

To begin with, hear to their bloody pukes heard on “Barbaric Alchemy” (some Black/Thrash Metal influences from the 80s can be heard on the guitar riffs), “Chromosomal Devastation” (here is explicit the fusion od Death Metal and Black Metal traces in some moment, but with chaotic rhythmic shifts from bass guitar and drums), “Captured Pieces” (again the influences of 80s Black/Thrash Metal are heard, with nasty vocals’ tunes), “Reaper’s Impunity” (here influences of melodic Blackened Death Metal can be clearly heard, with excellent darkened melodies weaved by the guitars), “Humanity’s Husk” (excellent slow parts with oppressive energy), and “Re-education” (again 80s influences entered their music, with putrid Hardcore touches) are their right for the presentations.

Adjusting the sonority on their next time, and TORTURERS’ LOBBY will surely become a name to follow with attention. For now, “Deadened Nerves” is displaying very good musical ideas.