“A further showing of violence.”
Back just eight months ago in April of this year, deathcore semi-supergroup PSYCHO-FRAME wowed audiences with an apt, (dis)tasteful and modern take on the classic sounds of the genre on their debut effort, REMOTE GOD SEEKER. Wholly disinterested with the grandiosity that the genre is known for in this day and age, the ethos in PSYCHO-FRAME’s writing seems to be born of an urge to take everything back to basics – before it all got so complicated. With chugging guitars, slams, blasts and violent breakdowns aplenty, alongside enough comically brutal lyrics and booming sub drops to make any seasoned MySpace dxc veteran grin ear-to-ear, it’s clear why they’ve resonated so much with the audience in the space that they occupy. Their sophomore effort, AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL, is not only a loud-and-proud representation of those things in even fuller force, but a further testament to the sheer songwriting and production talent on display within the group.
Not intent on wasting time or mincing words, opening number “A FURTHER SHOWING OF VIOLENCE” begins AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL as it intends to go on – loud, violent and unrelenting. Rolling double kicks, a bin-lid snare tone, hefty chugs and squealing pinch harmonics set the stage for what’s to come, proving its namesake apt. Through its three-minute runtime, it becomes apparent that PSYCHO-FRAME’s success on their debut was not simply a fluke, and that the electric energy present on that EP is further present here in spades. Gage Goss of Vamachara makes a welcome appearance here early on too, providing a great contrast with dual-lead vocalists Michael Sugars and Jonathan Whittle (both formerly of Vatican), before the track descends into pure chaos toward its conclusion. A spacious, dissonant and unbelievably heavy beatdown precedes an eponymous vocal call out that ushers in the track’s final, groove-laden breakdown.
We see further influences from the slammier side of PSYCHO-FRAME’s sound from the jump on “STRAITJACKET AFTERBIRTH”, which opens with some wonderfully unintelligible gutturals over some insane drumwork. The tempo slows down toward the track’s mid-section, as we’re treated with a bouncy, bass-and-drum-led build to multiple breakdowns and beatdowns back-to-back. It’s all so simple and yet so effective, scratching such a specific itch in my former core-kid brain that I haven’t experienced in years until the emergence of bands like PSYCHO-FRAME and Tracheotomy. Over one of the aforementioned beatdowns, we’re further treated to another vocal feature, this time from Tyler Mullen of Scarab, who brings a truly animalistic energy to the track, and later provides a great vocal interplay with Whittle.
Classic death metal tremolos open up mid-EP cut “BONE CROWN DEFORMITY” before jumping into pacey double-time drumming and dissonant chugging. Certainly proving to be one of the EPs most blisteringly fast tracks yet, this pace is brought to a stark halt in the track’s second half, as we’re yet again shown that PSYCHO-FRAME are not here to play, transforming the second half of the cut into a half-beatdown, half-frenzied showing of violence that is all killer and no filler. It also transitions perfectly into the downtempo “CRAWLSPACE MESSIAH”, featuring Kane Gelaznik of Vomit Forth, which contains some of AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL’s most belligerent moments yet. Lightning-fast kicks roll beneath low-n-slow beatdown sections, making for such a hilariously heavy combination that it’s almost impossible not to laugh.
Perhaps the EPs bigger claim to fame comes with late-EP rager “BEATEN BEYOND IDENTIFICATION” featuring legendary Waking The Cadaver frontman Don Campan. Part hyper-speed tech-deathcore rager; part violent, slamming brutality, “BEATEN BEYOND IDENTIFICATION” is probably the most ridiculous song in PSYCHO-FRAME’s catalogue yet, showing the band’s full spread of musicality in a tight and unrelenting package. It’s hard to deny the chops of guitarist Hunter Young (also of Moodring) here too, as the lead work seen in the track’s opening moments showcases his ability in impressive full force.
AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL comes to an aptly brutal close with lead single “THE PLOT TO NUKE THE MIDWEST”, perhaps the sophomore EPs closest equivalent to a REMOTE GOD SEEKER cut – just good ole, straightforward deathcore that revels in and celebrates its own ridiculousness. Breakdown after breakdown, blast after blast, slam after slam, “THE PLOT TO NUKE THE MIDWEST” closes out AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL as it started: with no frills and no pulled punches, just unrelenting violence.
With some of the most fun and unrelenting songwriting I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in some time, alongside potentially the best mix in a metal release I’ve heard all year, AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL is an undeniable testament to just how far PSYCHO-FRAME will go. A release that truly understands what once made the genre tick, with enough modern flair and styling that it feels wholly fresh, it gives a sense that this semi-supergroup has succeeded the bands that came before it at times, having created something that feels new and exciting for the genre. With how productive they’ve been this year, and with the promise of extensive live appearances in the new year, I have no doubts that we will be hearing from PSYCHO-FRAME a lot more, and very, very soon, and that you’ll want to hear what they have to say.
9.5/10
AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL will be available this Friday, December 8th via self-release, and you can find limited-time vinyl & merch pre-orders here.