Review: “Self Titled” by Resin Tomb

How is it that some musicians can keep their fingers in many pies, spinning the plates of multiple projects simultaneously while keeping each one different and distinctive? For Resin Tomb who feature members of Siberian Hell Sounds, Descent and Snorlax among others in their ranks, it’s a challenge. Vocalist Matthew Budge, drummer Perry Vedelago and guitarist Brendan Auld forged their alliance in 2018 formulating the crux of Resin Tomb’s signature sound in a blend of dissonant, intricate, soul-crushing Blackened Death Metal with moments of Grind madness. Recorded and mixed at Black Blood Audio by Auld before being, mastered by Simon at Empty Hall Studios, the band’s self-titled debut EP is a highly anticipated affair.

The second EP from Snorlax was a ripping, snorting, shrieking, spitting and down right venomous piece of work and in Resin Tomb, the influence of Snorlax is felt almost immediately with “Abrogate” leaving no stone unturned in its whirlwind onslaught of flesh ripping sounds. Blast beats a plenty, the vocals from Budge are audiable when compared to those of Auld with both men going head to head to see who can do the most damage to our ear drums. “Penance” then ups the ante with a track twice as long offering up some slower more sinister Black Metal atmospheric parts to break out from the Grind driven madness, which isn’t too far away from “It Comes In Waves” by The Acacia Strain, which is more a sign of how far TAS go with that record than anything else. “Surfacing” flips things back around, with high energy blast beats and brooding riffs to accompany the throat shredding vocals. The interplay between the two vocalists shines through on this one with Auld’s darker and deeper growls complimenting Budget’s shriller tones perfectly. Working in similar fashion and in places coming across like a Blackend Death Metal version of Nails, “Prostrated” is a lethal dose of Australian hate. The Artillery shell pummeling and yet perfectly metronomic drum sound could have only been achieved by a handful of others, Gene Hoglan or perhaps Brandon Trahan. Slowing things down once more for the menacing “Bestial“, which somehow manages to pass the five minute mark with its bleak sounds is a master stroke, as is the fourth minute almost tribal percussive moment with bass bleed out that creates tension that you could cut with a knife before that final, savage minute of sweeping riffs. This is skull crushingly brilliant [8.5/10]

Track listing

1. Abrogate
2. Penance
3. Surfacing
4. Prostrated
5. Bestial

“Self Titled” by Resin Tomb is out 31st July via Brilliant Emperor Records and available for pre-order over at bandcamp.