This Bilbao band cite influences as far reaching as Soundgarden, Bolt Thrower and Autopsy, I kid you not, and throughout my numerous listening experiences with ‘Grengus’, I can honestly say, this is no bullshit. Each and every track is a mammoth slab of heavy music; from the Lair of the Minotaur/Black Breath inspired opener ‘Under the Hoof’ through to the Autopsy led ‘To Ride the Leviathan. What this band in their favour is the ability to mix this up with the relative tranquillity and hard rock stronghold from the early Seattle scene without being tagged grunge, far from it. The guitars are very low end heavy like the aforementioned Coventry death metal legends (Bolt Thrower), there are rampant pieces of drumming coming in and out of this bands consciousness, this quality keeps you entertained and certainly responsive, you cannot fail to be.

If you prefer the more straight ahead meat and potatoes aggressive death metal in the older vein, a groovy vein, then you want to check out ‘Pile of Severed Heads’, very Autopsy. If you want your doom rocks off with a touch of Triptykon (due to the guitar tone), then look no further than the album title track. If you really feel no need to nod your head in appreciation then this music really is not for you, stop trying to be a part of it, pure and simple. This track vocally verges into the Cornell/Staley tone whilst keep the ever present doom aspect to the sound. You can hear layers of texture, depth of precision and a total annihilation of your speaker system; it’s an unmistakable moment of consequence, magic.

If you are into a really heavy gene pool of talent then look no further than Horn of the Rhino, this album ‘Grengus’ destroys and combines some influences that you never thought possible all in the space of the albums duration, it’s hard hitting, inspirational and essential right down to its abrupt ending.

(8/10 Paul Maddison)

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