Glasgow, Scotland’s own Brutal Death Metal institution Scordatura have been active and consistent since 2007. Regular new material was littered throughout that timeframe, up to and including their last full length ‘Mass Failure’ (2020), after which there was a halt of new material. Six years later and the Scottish quartet have just set loose a new monstrous full length via the mighty Everlasting Spew Records entitled ‘Led Into Oblivion’.
Scordatura’s style of Brutal Death Metal is technical and rabid, and thanks to a crisp modern production akin to many of their peers, all of the instruments cut through with clarity, even in the “stop and go” style of their songs. I found myself making comparisons stylistically to modern era Cryptopsy throughout the listen, especially vocally. The light speed blasting is broken up periodically in slower moments found on ‘A Manic Indoctrination’ and the grooving intro to ‘Begging to Die’, which offers a reprieve from the ear beating through the majority of the release.
The Girardi adorned cover of ‘Led Into Oblivion’ depicts an appropriately chaotic scene that acts as a perfect backdrop to this completely unhinged release. Churning tempos and patterns that rarely repeat keep the under 30 minute album moving and from getting too stale at any one point. I personally would have liked to hear a handful more hooks, like the middle section of ‘Oppressed/Repressed’ to give me something to sink my teeth into, as the instrument theatrics leave me dizzy and confused as to what’s happening at most points (not a bad thing).
Overall not disappointed by this release in the slightest. I’d argue it’s one of the stronger technical-leaning Brutal Death releases of the year thus far that I have heard.
