Ruining It for Everyone

Labrat: Rob (vocals); Steve (guitar); Adam (bass); Nathan (drums).
Recorded at Fortress Studio, London, England.
Labrat incorporates just enough fresh-sounding ideas on Ruining It for Everyone (the band's second full-length) to carve an identity for itself amidst the overcrowded death metal scene. Of course, the music is brutal, and displays all the classic hallmarks of the genre: whiplash tempos, growled vocals, and tempo shifts all over the place. But there's something unique in the group's jarring dynamics and off-the-wall note choice that just sounds new -- and, the use of well-placed samples and other subtle production ideas help to keep the affair interesting. The songs are generally quite short, and interestingly, there's not a guitar solo to be found. Jaded grindcore/extreme metal fans may find something here to renew their interest in a somewhat tired genre. ~ Andy Hinds