A review of Cutthroat “Invoking Terror”

 

Cutthroat

“Invoking Terror”

Dying Victims Prod. 2026

 

There have been a few “Cutthroats” over the years. It seems, however, that none of them are currently active, so no one is likely to drag a new band with that name to the court, hehe! This particular Cutthroat hails from Ireland and plays something between thrash (less) and death (more) metal. The gentlemen, though they look young, do it in a very old-school style, yet full of youthful rebellion and enthusiasm. “Invoking Terror” is an EP containing five tracks, with a total runtime of twenty-five minutes. The way these guys approach the subject is decidedly direct. What does that mean? Well, for example, they place a much greater emphasis on brutality than on catchy melodies or technical show-offs. Their compositions are simple, based more on sharp guitar chords that charge forward without the slightest compromise. Speaking of guitar lines, it should be noted that the Irish band’s inspirations are quite obvious. You can hear early Death (from the demo and their first album era), Possession, or Sadistic Intent here. At times, early Morbid Angel also comes through, as in “Morbid Rites” (I wonder if that title is just a coincidence). Furthermore, the compositions on this album are not devoid of tempo changes or variations in picking style, which shows that the musicians were not short on ideas. I also like the vocals, which fit perfectly with the atmosphere of these tracks. At times, they remind me a bit of Chris Reifert (though perhaps more in terms of articulation than tone itself). These recordings sound raw, but not like they were recorded in a basement. The balance here is also perfectly maintained. But the biggest strength of this release is that with every listen, it sinks deeper and deeper into your head.  I admit that after the first run, I thought “It’s just another average-quality, typical Dying Victims release.” But after five more, I couldn’t tear myself away from “Invoking Terror.” And the closing track, “Life Beyond the Grave,” gives me chills every single time! Give this Throat Slitter a listen, because this is truly solid late-’80s-style material. I’m looking forward to the full length album.

- jesusatan