“The unholy rips through the weak.”
With the recent formation and rise of acts like Tracheotomy and Tactosa, as well the notable reissue of Thy Art Is Murder’s Infinite Death, there seems to be something of a resurgence in the world of ‘MySpace deathcore’. It feels strange to acknowledge that we’re now so far removed from that movement now that such a thing could occur, but given just how much the landscape of metal has changed over the past 10 to 15 years, it’s probably about time that I admit that a lot of the stuff I grew up loving is somewhat… retro, now.
For the simple fact that this was the stuff that helped me fall back in love with metal in my teens, I welcome this sea change with open arms. In an age where a majority of deathcore’s leading acts are borderline tech-death, littered with symphonics or oddly progressive, this style returning to the fold feels oddly satisfying. That’s not to say the modern landscape of deathcore is even remotely in a bad spot; I absolutely adore the likes of Darko, Fit For An Autopsy, Lorna Shore and even the newer Chelsea Grin material, but there’s something within this notion of ‘going back to basics’, as it were, that makes my inner tween beam with happiness.
The newest addition to the ever-growing list of throwback dxc outfits is PSYCHO-FRAME. A supergroup of sorts, formed of both the current and original vocalists of Georgia-based Vatican, as well as the hyper-prolific Hunter Young (Moodring, Bodybox, Silence, etc.) among others, PSYCHO-FRAME are a group of seasoned scene veterans who clearly understand their craft, and that could not be more evident than on their debut EP, REMOTE GOD SEEKER.
From REMOTE GOD SEEKER’s opening moments, it’s clear the deathcore supergroup aren’t intent on anything other than delivering the goods, with no abandon. “INTERNAL DEATH TRANCE” careers on through at full velocity, carving a path of utter sonic annihilation. The track darts between rapid pace riffing and pummeling chugs, sprinkled with some cheeky pinch harmonics to effectively set the tone of the EP in violent style.
The vocal duo’s fierce interplay here is an evident strength from the jump too, as Mike Sugars and John Whittle effortlessly dance between manic high screams, disgusting gutturals and biting mid-growls that only serve to add to the weight of the EP’s oppressive sound. This is further evident on singles “24 HOURS LEFT” and “DRAGGING NAZARENE”, which not only match the pace and energy of the opening cut, but seek to raise the bar, especially on the latter of the two, which features not only some of the most outwardly disgusting vocals on the entire EP, but further features some great bass work from John Mackey.
Not once does the EP slow down either, with following tracks “RAINING GLASS” and “NEW JACK ERADICATION” wasting absolutely no time in establishing their monstrous presence. The latter of the two tracks further features some of the most frenetic and manic vocals across the entire EP, with Whittle sounding like he’s truly scratching the top of his range with some of the most piercing, ferocious and unique high screams I’ve heard in deathcore as of late.
Closing number “LASTING MORTAL NIGHTMARE” draws the curtains on REMOTE GOD SEEKER in appropriately punishing fashion, with possibly the most animalistic and ridiculously over-the-top heavy on the EP. The track’s groovy closing breakdown that follows one of the EP’s only quiet moments hits like a truck swerving into you at full speed, and as swiftly as REMOTE GOD SEEKER begins, the ride is over.
Between every song on REMOTE GOD SEEKER, one thing that always stands out is the drum work. Each and every girthy kick, pinging snare and hissing cymbal cuts right through and feels placed with intention, and is only amplified in effectiveness by the absurdly great mix, handled in-house by Brandan Lopez at Young‘s own Swamp Sound studio. It’s rare a mix feels as stylistically perfect as this, but with REMOTE GOD SEEKER it feels so integral to the overall sound of the EP. The guitar tone has a fierce and commanding presence, and works alongside the drums to create this crushed, blown-out wall of sound that sounds nothing short of perfect for the style.
With REMOTE GOD SEEKER, PSYCHO-FRAME elevate themselves to the top of the deathcore pecking order in a way that I believe most people haven’t cottoned onto yet: embracing your roots. The original era of ‘MySpace deathcore’ may be long gone, but the stylistic elements that were largely left behind still feel truly fresh when executed correctly, and I believe this is as close to a perfect incarnation of that style as one can get. Time will only tell if this resurgence ends up being a whole new movement in itself, but if bands like PSYCHO-FRAME, Tracheotomy and Tactosa are anything to go by, I sure hope it does.
9.5/10
REMOTE GOD SEEKER will be available, this Friday, May 5th via Wax Vessel, and you can find limited-time physical pre-orders for the EP here.