5th November 2024

Review: “Infernal End / Intracranial Form” by Soul Incursion (3rd Anniversary)

A band formed in 2021 by a trio of former Grinding Fear members in Helsinki Finland, Soul Incursion didn’t spend too long in piecing together a first burnt offering in Death Metal for our listening pleasure. Recorded by Markus Heinonen (who later mixed) at Saarni Music Studios and guitarist Oskar Bruun at Vallila ’87 Studios before being by Matias Nastolin (Kiss Disease, Decaying) at Louhinta Studios, this twin track affair is the only one from the band to feature drummer Benjam Lahdenpää (Bashed, ex-Decaying). He exited stage left to be replaced by Arttu Turunen for sophomore EP “Eternal Darkness“…

As you might expect from a group of seasoned musicians who have played in a myriad of bands, this virgin sacrifice is a white knuckle ride of the finest order. Flying out of Hell’s gate like a dungeon whippet let off its leash, “Infernal End” is classic Death Thrash offering in the Slayer or Morbid Angel mould which plays out at the tempo of the damned. Vocalist and bassist Aleksi Mattila has a distinctive dry raspy style which makes him sound like the Grim Reaper on a cold October night, the pummelling kit work and flying solo nothing short of absolute class. It has to be said that there is a verve and swagger to these cuts from musicians that know exactly what they want to do and how to execute it, something which makes this record so much more rounded than most debut records you’ll hear. Building the atmospherics for a couple of minutes with rumbling bass and some tasteful leads “Intracranial Form” is 65 seconds in before the vocals rear their ugly head once more. That bodes well for the band creating longer compositions in the future because its captivating in its majestic darkness, the Old School riffs fearfully addictive. The only issue with this track is that it could have gone on another verse and chorus easily, instead cutting short before it feels like it’s been completed. All in all, a prized pair of vicious little ditties that will go down well in the live arena [7.5/10]

Track Listing