Review: “Roadkill Rodeo” by Gloomweaver

It’s the dawn of a new day for Southern England  Slamming Beatdown Deathcore collective Gloomweaver because after 18 months of radio silence, they’ve issued a sophomore EP in “Roadkill Rodeo” from a new line up. Joining original guitarist Mike Simon and drummer Joe Kaleth are a trio of familiar faces in former Majin vocalist Sam Walley, former Confronted bassist Jhon Alarcon and former member Pissing Head Wound guitarist Peter Cook. Three years after their 2022 debut EP “Dragged Back to the Waking World“, this new affair was recorded and mixed by Charlie Wilson (Detriment, Aggro, In God’s Way) at Monolith Studio in London and has been conjoined to artwork by Anditya Dita (Dead Squad, False Visions, Diabology) for the rest of its unnatural life.

The reanimation of the corpse of Gloomweaver with an injection of adrenaline and a paramedic shouting “clear!” before a defibrillator put a thousand volts into the chest inevitably means a change in sound for the South Coast outfit. That rears it’s ugly head very early on as vocalist Sam Walley offering up Slam vocals in the vein of Old Wharf with opening cut “Brazen Bull“, the depths of his depravity seeming knowing no limit. What hasn’t changed is the bands ability to mix it up and their pounding Sludgy Death Metal riffage with bursts of dark energy absolutely pulverise as they take Slamming Beatdown Deathcore to a whole new level. They even give us a sample before a Downtempo Deathcore finale of the highest order. Title track “Roadkill Rodeo” then slaps like a woman scorned, riffs for two steppers accompanied by the kind of throat shredding vocals that mean Walley has burned through the warranty on his larynx. A vicious little ditty of malicious intent, it bites like a bulldog and stings like a hornet while feeling all the while like you’re being dragged kicking and screaming to the bowels of hell itself. There is even a well worked false ending that brings in some Metallic Hardcore manoeuvres in Death Metal guitar tones so you can throw your friends around in the mosh pit. Getting down and dirty “Bog Wraith” circles the drain with spiralling riffs as Walley mixes Death growls with shriller vocals. A crisp and clean drum sound has been nailed to perfection and while the style shift may take some getting used to for some by the end of this you’ll be left crying out for more [8/10]

Track Listing;

1. Brazen Bull
2. Roadkill Rodeo
3. Bog Wraith

“Roadkill Rodeo” by Gloomweaver is out 19th August 2025 and is available over at bandcamp.