ARTIST: Without a Martyr
ALBUM: PITCH BLACK EP
GENRE: DEATHCORE
RATING: 7/10
Rising from the depths of the over-saturated, often generic, Scranton, Pennsylvania metal scene is Without a Martyr. Part death metal, part deathcore, Pitch Black is undeniably heavy, a blast from the past with modern twists.
Clocking in at just over thirty minutes, Pitch Black is something like This is Exile-era Whitechapel crossed with Tomb of the Mutilated-era Cannibal Corpse with a few unique additions. The dual guitar combination of Mike White and Eric Ross an excellent pairing; many times, there is a solo or lead guitar part complementing the relentless riffs and breakdowns, assisted by slamming bass grooves. The rhythm section is no pushover in Without a Martyr; bass-driven breakdowns and double bass abound freely on the EP.
Vocally, Eric Ross has developed a unique style, a roar that is both recognizable and understandable. On higher notes, his voice sounds strained, but that is actually to Pitch Black’s benefit. The “barely hanging on” shrieks match the EP’s frantic pace, never quite settling into a fast or slow groove. Gang vocals and yells are also mixed in with Ross’s screaming, adding a distinctly modern element to the release. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, such as when Ross wonders “Why do you do this to yourself?!” on “Wrong Turn,” a lament of a friend’s struggles with hard drugs. On the other hand, call-outs like “Suck my dick!” sound a bit ridiculous with the rest of the EP’s themes.
Pitch Black’s songwriting is overall very solid. Each breakdown has something slightly unique about it to help break up sometimes monotonous moments, and the guitar parts, especially the intros and solos, are rather memorable at times. Lyrically, it can be thoughtful, but it can just as easily turn into the excess typical of the genre, though Without a Martyr has never pretended to be anything different. Pitch Black often sounds like old-school death metal, but enough of a modern twist is present to keep the EP exciting.
Without a Martyr has grown by leaps and bounds on Pitch Black. The EP is far from perfect, but it is aggressive, well written, and enjoyable.
BEST SONGS: “Wrong Turn,” “Frankenstein,” “Pitch Black”
SOUNDS LIKE: Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under, Whitechapel, Oceano
