• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Note to all the veteran death metal acts struggling to find the energy of their classic releases: this is how it's done. Massachusetts death metallers Soul Remnants invoke the anger, frenzy, and scummy attitude of early death metal on their debut album Plague of the Universe. The album's slick production aids them in a modernization of old school death metal: being angry, yet empowering and grand. So many bands seem to have incorporated influences from deathcore to their sound, creating an irritating and idiotically macho brand of death metal. Soul Remnants eschew these vile influences, carving out their own blend of harsh, pissed off music, complete with the bestial vocals of Mitch Fletcher and the serpentine guitar riffs of Tom Preziosi.

Ignoring the common ultra simple yet ferociously brutal death metal permeating into every local scene, Soul Remnants meticulously craft their songs with winding riffs. Their songs are built with multiple layers, sometimes too much so, sounding almost contrived and engineered, rather than natural. That's merely a small quibble, though. Almost entirely, this is an invigorating and creative release, which has clearly had many hardworking hours put into it. "Chopwork," the opening track is short for a reason. It jolts the listener into the frenetic pace the album maintains. Fantastic songs like "Bloodsick" and "Remembrance" furiously hearken back the animalistic glory days Malevolent Creation and Morbid Angel.

The field of death metal has become muddled due to proliferation. Few bands stand out above the pack. Because of their creativity, and meticulous care to detail, Soul Remnants have been able to stand out.