Review: “Death’s Toll” by DeathCollector

“DeathCollector came into being towards the end of the pandemic, as a way for friends to keep working on music. But thanks to support from the underground, plus the amazing backing/support from Prosthetic Records… The album is a mixture of all things we’ve loved in music over the years. Everyone involved has put their heart and soul into this release, and we are eager to see where this opportunity will take us… We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!” ~ DeathCollector

Mixed and mastered by Gord Olson (Angelblast, Darkened, This Ending), the debut album “Death’s Toll” by DeathCollector was recorded their remotely and separately at a time when restrictions prevented freedom of movement. Fordhouse Studios was used to record the drums while guitar parts were completed with engineer Ciaran Culhane and the rest recorded at home studios with the bands physical distance between England and Ireland an easy bridge to cross in the internet age. It’s the work of seasoned musicians with a wealth of prior convictions, the group comprising drummer Andy Whale (Darkened, Ex-Memoriam, Ex-Bolt Thrower), guitarist Mick Carey (Zealot Cult), bassist Lee Cummings (Severe Lacerations) and vocalist Kieran Scott (Ashen Crown, Grimorte) and is said to go back to the very roots of Death Metal with a raw Hardcore and Punk edge…

Opening with the classic old school Death Metal sounds of the album title track, the band have all the sinister edged menace that their rich past would suggest while also having a spitting, snarling life of their own. The vim and vigour, attitude and approach of the cut confirms that the band might be old hands at this game but they’ve still got plenty lead in their pencils. You can teach an old dog new tricks but when the old tricks are this good, why bother? After that first journey down the left hand path the schizophrenic touches of “Mental Hedonist” are a skull battering to be savoured. Carey pulls out a sublime solo with a classic whammy bar drop finale as Scott’s throat grating vocals reach gravelly new lows but it’s the Death Thrash infusion of the main riff that really makes this one a cut above. They may have avoided creating an inception moment by not making this record the self titled one but “DeathCollector” by DeathCollector is still a brutal call to arms. Scott’s blood gargling abrasions have a hypnotic trance educing quality on this one like he’s suffered demonic possession and the result is something that sounds like it belongs to Frozen Soul, the irony being that they’re Bolt Thrower inspired themselves. Whale provides arguably his finest and most inventive kit performance on this one as well, making it a suitably fitting tune to name the band after. A dark bloodstained fantasy that borders on the psychological Death Metal ideas of bands like Strangle Wire, “Coarse Visions” is a cleverly put together piece full of post-hypnotic suggestion. The lyrics are kept purposefully on the edge to allow the listener to make the song their own, however they are enticing enough to remain captivating with yet another savage performance from Scott.

The thoughts of a serial killer bound for Arkham Asylum for a life spent in a padded room wearing a straight jacket make up the lyrics of “Terrorizer“, a morbid vision from a heart of darkness influenced by classic Death Metal going back decades. Accompanied by pulverising soundscape of rhythmic dynamics with a clever groove laden transition in the mid section, this one ensures that the album doesn’t have a soft centre while the solo climbs intricately out from the back depths in some style. “A Taste of Ichor” follows suit, a classic galloping Death Metal cut that has plenty of verve, swagger, bark and bite, a classic Pestilence like riff perhaps exposing some of the bands lesser thought of influences. Carey saves a fleeting solo for the final moments but it works incredibly well before “Internal Expansion” takes over the reigns. Another one that is lyrically clever, it doesn’t get as deep down and gore laden as others might with the graphical depictions, Scott giving licence to the discerning listeners imagination to fill in the gaps as he transforms from man to rage fuelled demonic beast in this low budget horror film soundtrack worthy piece. The same can be said of “Revel In The Gore” because despite the title the lyric air on the side of suggestion than reality, you see the knife, you see the shower curtain and the blood spray on it and your brain fills in the gaps. Sonically the band keep the pulsating rhythms going a the tempo of the damned, slick transitions and high grade musicianship leaving nothing to chance on this caustic little poison pen ditty. Perhaps “Rearview Guilt” is a hint at a serial killer’s remorse but it also embraces the simple fact that there is no escape from who you are, your divine purpose, what you were created for if you will. Forget King 810 and the cryptic writings of David Gunn because he is Santa in comparison with Kieran Scott as Satan himself [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Death’s Toll
2. Mental Hedonist
3. DeathCollector
4. Coarse Visions
5. Terrorizer
6. A Taste of Ichor
7. Internal Expansion
8. Revel In The Gore
9. Rearview Guilt

“Death’s Toll” by DeathCollector is out 23rd June 2023 via Prosthetic Records with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.