Review: “Filth Encrusted” by Soul Grinder

Having put themselves on the map with their Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust, Municipal Waste, Idle Ruin)  mixed and mastered 2019 debut album “The Prophecy of Blight“, the highly anticipated return of Portland Oregon Thrash trio Soul Grinder with sophomore album “Filth Encrusted” has been preceded by three singles cut from released over a year. “Melting Spree“, “Chosen” and “Overload” have served the bassist and vocalist April “Prilzor” Dimmick (Skull Throne), drummer Kevin Ross (Dismal Reverie) and guitarist Alex Avery well, setting the tone and building the hype as they continue their journey down the left hand path of destruction, chaos and death while adorned by artwork that looks like they stepped out of George Miller’s world of Mad Max. That’s not to discount May 2022 three track EP “Queen Corrosia“, a short and yet sickly sweet affair that sits between the two albums either…

The oldest of the singles serves as the albums opening cut in “Melting Spree“, a Pizza Thrash cu that is reminiscent of something from Toxic Avenger, low budget cheap horror thrills and spills providing the storyline. What it lacks in a face melting whammy bar drop solo, it makes up for in aggression and attitude, the solid rhythmic dynamic giving it a satisfying crunch. The drum sound isn’t as crisp and clean as it could be which gives the material a nostalgic and slightly dated feel that plays into the hands of the bands style and ensuring these cuts have an ocean of charm. “Siege Breaker” has those classic dirge laden riffs that leave it sounding like an early 80’s Bay Area staple while the solo and gang chants throwing fuel on the fire to create a raging inferno that belongs on the Juke Box at a biker bar somewhere on route 666. Another that could easily feature on the sound track to a George Miller directed “Your World is Ours” continues the pulverising Death Thrash onslaught with a midtempo skull crusher to delight. A classically ascending solo is masterfully done, purposefully kept slow to match it’s surroundings. There have always been naysayers who point the fickle finger of fate and claim that women can’t do Metal vocals as well as men and quite frankly this writer disagrees; Prilzor another to prove that theory wrong. Her uncleans are just as mean and nasty as anyone else’s and she wastes no time on clean parts at all, keeping to the Thrash genre stylings throughout. A fitting title track, the obscene abomination that is “Filth Encrusted” sounds like a demo from “Domination” era Morbid Angel, a testament to the quality of the musicianship and the time spent in the rehearsal space piecing it together.

If you’ve ever wondered what Dani Filth’s shill shriek might sound like on a Thrash cut then Prilzor gives you that opportunity with “Overload” (and latterly “All is Dust“) with a couple of moments that may catch you off guard on the first spin; whether you’re intrigued or irritated is the toss of a coin. Avery sets the place ablaze with an impressive extended solo and this one actually cuts short when it could have happily continued onto another verse and chorus after that. A slower, sinister trudge through an apocalyptic wasteland “Plague Pilgrim” has yet more majestic lead work as Avery starts to come into his own surrounded by swirling clanky basslines. There are moments in the first half of the cut where there is the feeling that this monster could have been something else, a melodic Thrash power ballad perhaps but instead the band push those ideas away before they take shape and indulge in something altogether darker while daring to be a little different. “Chosen” returns to type with some “Master Of Puppets” era Metallica influenced guitars (there are a couple of points where a segue into “Battery” from that album sounds like it’s about to appear) makes for a fine addition. It’s not let down but the fact that the drums are a little muddier in the mix than they are earlier, simply because there is plenty of other quality to distract the attention. A melancholic melody that builds into a stomping affair, “A Foul River” chugs without ever threating to get out of third gear, meandering in its own atmospheric funk to a nursery rhyme like lyric. Its the kind of cut that grows on you over multiple listens, again cutting short just as it appears to be building up to a real gut punch moment, a heavy breakdown or a ripping solo. Overall, “Filth Encrusted” has a lot to offer in a grimy, Troma movie kind of way… [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Melting Spree
2. Siege Breaker
3. Your World is Ours
4. Filth Encrusted
5. Overload
6. Plague Pilgrim
7. Chosen
8. All is Dust
9. A Foul River

“Filth Encrusted” by Soul Grinder is out 23rd June 2023 with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.