DEGENERATE – “Demo 2016†[Self-released 2016]
I am one of those grumpy old men, thinking and proclaiming the state of the current Metal scene isn’t as great, as in the good old days, quality and soul-wise. Correct or not, that is how us grumpy old men should be, though once in a while, when checking out new music, something comes along that takes us back to that special place plus 20 years ago.
Such music does the quite new Dutch duo DEGNERATE deliver, a harsh and energetic crossover of high octane Thrash, some Speed Metal twists and heavier elements dragging towards Death Metal, without crossing that far over. The music is driven by the precise and sharply executed riffs, with a good bottom and drive, and quite catchy with some good hooks, and the guitar tone is quite well hit. A modern and crunchy sound with a good splash of nostalgia.
The guitars are laid on top of solid and again quite precisely executed rhythm patterns, the band is delivering their musical inferno tight and solid, and the heavy double bass drumming spiced up with a good use of cymbals and breaks, do work really well and dynamic in this context. The vocals are also a nod back to the golden age of this type of music, a raw yell with a good pronunciation and snarl, and I am a sucker for sing-a-long parts and back up choruses.
DEGENRATE has written music as in the good old days and made it sound modern, without losing the feel of ‘back then’, and that is quite an accomplishment as there usually are something feel lost in the process, though these 4 tracks do their trick and is heavy drenched in Rock ‘N’ Roll, raw energy and that brutal feel some modern music lack.