This is the third full length album by the quartet from Tucson, Arizona, and the longest… Well almost, the debut was ten tracks in under 17 minutes, with the follow-up being fifteen tracks in 27 minutes, while this one is eleven tracks in 26 minutes. This is owing to the band moving away from short, fast grindcore tracks to slightly longer death metal tinges grindcore tracks, as the maximum duration of 3 minutes shall attest.

The album opens with absolutely no fanfare, straight to the blasting of “Manifesto”, where the guttural growls scrape against the rapid guitars and shrieking cymbals.

Sean Mears manages to drag out his growls for a little longer over Matthew Mutterperl’s guitars riffs on “Last Legs”, as Zack Hansen allows for a pace respite when he beats on the snare at would appear a lethargic pace in contrast to when he’s blasting.

“Ripped Remains” begins with a flourish of beaten drums and growls that quickly become screams before settling down to a manageable speed as the song fades into the heavier but angrier “Parasite” where Ryan Bram’s bass melody cuts through under the kick drums as an allegro feel takes over.

The frenetic tremoloing guitar for “Poisoned Chalice” only lasts a moment before we’re thrown headlong into “Judas Goat” where quick riff changes are matched by the ever-changing drum fills as the song blasts along.

Following suit, “The Collector” keeps the pace up and the anger at full swing, but the rolling guitar riff for “Failed State” lets the vocals almost have a melody to follow before “Feeding The Flames” slows things down completely with a doomy death drawl to the guitars as the long roars quicken as the tempo increased before the song draws to a close.

Easily the happiest and bounciest song on the album, “Comply Or Die” is most likely anything but, but that doesn’t prevent its delivery from sounding utterly jovial. Which as a completely contrast “Corporate Dystopia” is bleak and oppressive when it’s not blisteringly fast and scathing.

Merging the best of both death and grind, the album packs a punch while still being melodic enough to keep my interest.

(7/10 Marco Gaminara)

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