27th December 2024

Review: “There’s No Light Six Feet Under” by Restricted

Whether its intentional or not, a violent delight of a debut EP in “There’s No Light Six Feet Under” by East Coast Deathcore quintet Restricted certainly feels like it could be a concept record. Each track recorded by vocalist pairing Gino Armstrong and John Pronesti, guitarist Lex Engle, bassist Marco Begazo and drummer Yorgo Malafis has the intensity of something written with a bloodlust for vengeance that can never be satisfied, the band instead seeking release for their nightmarish visions in sonic oblivion. Released this past summer independently it came before the arrival of second guitarist Jane Harms…

Pummelling the discerning listener into submission within the first few seconds, Restricted use the weight of their sound to crush anyone or anything that would stand it their path with opening cut “D.U.A“. Sonically hints at influence from the underrated Dr. Acula and Slipknot are obvious as the guitars chug, bursts of blood gargling vocals interspliced with both shriller and death growled flavours work incredibly well. The mid tempo stomp and sonar like noise that runs through it give it different edge and while it doesn’t sound overly raw it has that demo like quality about it, especially with the drum sound. Jackhammer footwork gives “Lead Laced Memories” a punch in the guts, the track itself call for vengeance in blood that leans on Slam influences in its furious and ferocious nature. A downtempo breakdown with a “Blegh!” moment goes off like a Molotov Cocktail, the horror film sample adding a spice that’s nice. Another violent tale of death and destruction “Dead Men Don’t Talk” hits like a hammer in the hands a psychotic serial killer, the pummelling Deathcore groove riffs harking back to the days that birthed the genre. The hip-hop inspired flow of the rhymed lyrics is perhaps rooted in Nu-Metal but the narrative feels more like the gangland violence of American History X. All in all this is a punishment beating everyone can enjoy and while it’s probably a cliché it does sound like it could be the start of something bigger… [7.5/10]

Track Listing