Goatscrote – Parasite Plague

With a name that in itself leaves little to the imagination, the “logo” and covers that Canadian Goatscrote serve themselves with make it even easier to imagine what this duo behind this illustrious band has to offer musically. As on the previous material, this second album is completely free of any finesse and delicacy. With ‘Parasite Plague’, you can once again wallow in the lower reaches of the cesspool of Black/Death Metal like a pudgy pig.

Although the band is Canadian and there are certainly some evident resemblances with the country’s renowned Ross Bay Cult-sound, Goatscrote is offering a bit more than just the senseless and chaotic beating of some of their peers. So, yes, the music is basically built upon the same sort of grinding guitars, but due to its almost Swedish buzz-sawing sound and the far deeper dynamics, the music is distinctly more versatile.

Especially in those moments the band slows down to a sluggish pace and creeps up to almost Funeral Doom territories, things start to get really interesting. Not only do they form a splendid contrast against the violent outbursts, but they also portray the album’s most sinister parts, conveying a truly dark atmosphere. In balancing themselves in between those two worlds, unbridled chaos versus unfathomable darkness, they are creating a bit of a niche of their own. Untying themselves from the more standard previous recordings that do have much more in common with the likes of Blasphemy, Black Witchery and Teitanblood. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea I suppose, but those who care (and dare) to take the plunge will see that mixing up these few things actually works perfectly.

While it might sound like an absolute oxymoron, but Goatscrote is actually offering us quite an adventurous ride while still staying more or less within the same (narrow) musical framework of their roots and earliest recordings. Aren’t we living in a topsy-turvy world?