WOUNDS is a Tech Death Metal band from Chicago.  More importantly, WOUNDS is a Tech Death Metal band that doesn't bore me to tears.  I love Death Metal of all styles but the Tech stuff often times goes out of its way to get in my way with endless instrument masturbation.  I'm not saying I don't enjoy the subgenre....but out of all the styles and bands among the vast catacombs of Death Metal, Tech Death is one that contains the smallest number of bands I enjoy.

WOUNDS and EP "Light Eater" swallows Tech Death whole and vomits it back out into a better beast.  First and foremost, "Light Eater" contains songs that were written by guys who actually care about real, meaningful song writing.  Yes, the over the top talent is there—these guys play sick music for sick people with a laser focus on playing as great as they can with the utmost proficiency.  However, among the ability to play notes that melt your brain, they wrapped all this technical mumbo jumbo in a very large blanket that smothers it with memorable moments and an untamed savage ferocity.

In essence, "Light Eater" is an album that features mind numbing songs presented in a package that includes passages that I'll actually care about ten minutes from now and a replay ability that is rare.  I honestly can't remember how many times I've listened to this beast from start to finish....at just under 21 minutes in length, it is the perfect jam session for if you don't have a lot of time but want to get the most out of that time.

The first track, "Explosion of Interstellar Terror," is just what the titles says.  From the very first moments of crunchy guitar to the very last second, this album runs wide open like some unseen cosmic beast ripping thru the stars. When those riffs hammer down, so do the cymbals of the drums-throughout the album guitarist Rick Mora and drummer Nate Burgard play off each other and it makes the songs all the more better...it gives the music that technical aspect but also keeps it in play to absorb as much energy and excitement as possible.  Speaking of MORA: this guy is a goddamn guitar samurai.  He is the only guitar player in WOUNDS–he plays off this stuff himself.  There are plenty of other Tech Death bands that do less with more.

Up next is the title track, "Light Eater."  Indeed, the vibes from the song conjured images in my brain of an ancient evil, reawakened with a hunger that can only be quenched by draining light from the universe itself.  The beginning riffs are true head banging stuff, more than enough to cause whip lash or have people in the next lane over stare at you while at a red light.  Ahem.  Moving on, the guitars are very memorable here but the star is Franco Caballero who adds his own brutal flavor to the songs while still keeping in with the structures' theme.  Listen to that bass at the two minute mark and tell me this guy's hands are made of hammers.

The third track, "Metamorphosis," is yet another aptly titled track.  The song starts out fast and intense, due in no small part to vocalist Conelius Hanus' rapid fire brutal vocal delivery.  I absolutely love his Death growls, both the lows and the highs; he is insanely monstrous but also delivers his words with clarity. The middle portion of the song is delivered thru with tight, quick riffs that would make most speed metal bands jealous.  The ending of the song is more mid paced than previous sections, complete with a stunningly emotive guitar solo from seemingly out of left field.

"Fractured," might be the most devastating on the album.   After a burst of artillery from the drums, the band doesn't waste a second before jumping into a barrage of riffs and one vicious vocal attack.  Musically, it is a very frantic song but the band still focuses on each note building upon the last.  This one just might be my favorite on the album. The final track, "An Undead Awakening," is about as unrelenting and hungry as a horde of zombies.  The double bass is especially galvanizing and the middle portion of the song is so dense with destruction that it is almost hypnotic.  A brutal track that is as enthralling as it is pulverizing and a great way to end the album.

I can't think of any problems this little EP has so it is getting a solid ten from me.  I also can't think of any reason why fans of Death Metal, regardless of which subgenre, wouldn't like this.