Artist: Slaughterbox
Album: The Ubiquity of Subjugation
Genre: technical/melodic deathgrind
Year: 2011
Label: Amputated Vein Records
My introduction to this band came from my interest in finding the world's fastest drummer. A number of forums pointed to Slaughterbox, specifically their song "Fit for Human Consumption." I checked it out, and it's safe to say that this was not a letdown. Pete Chavez is an absolute machine behind the kit. Whether or not his playing is legit or computer-aided is up for debate, but the speed of this album is, without a doubt, undeniably insane. Tracks like "Arrogance and the Loss of Human Dignity" and "The Head Table" showcase the band's ability to play highly-technical compositions at (nearly?) inhuman speeds.
Slaughterbox is first and foremost a tech-death band in the vein of Viraemia, but they manage to bring in unique elements (aside from their ridiculous drummer, of course). Each track showcases a powerful melodic section that shifts the pacing from a violent wank fest to an emotional, equally wanky one. The title track even makes use of clean guitar parts combined with buzzing double bass rolls. These passages set Slaughterbox above their contemporaries in my books.
One last feature that sets this album apart is the vocals. They are a combination of pig squeals and high-pitched shrieks, and they're all done by the drummer! His vocals definitely take some getting used to, as he often sounds like he is about to completely blow out his voice, but with time the vocals seem to meld nicely with both the technical and melodic sections.
I highly recommend this album to fans of Brain Drill, Viraemia, and Origin. Definitely not the kind of music that can be appreciated on the first listen, but this album is a real treat if you give it time. You can stream the album on YouTube here.
Rating: 4 / 5
Top Tracks:
Fit for Human Consumption
The Ubiquity of Subjugation
Manifest Destiny of the New World Order
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