Band: Subhuman
Title: Profondo Rozzo
Label: Maple Metal Records
Distribution: /
Release date: 21/08/2009
Review: CD

The Italian quintet Subhuman was formed in 2001. Their mini Delirio n° 1 (2005) got positively reviewed in, especially, the Italian press, and the band was able to do lots of live performances, among which an appearance on the 2008-edition of Evolution Festival, featuring bands as Death Angel, In Flames or Opeth. In November last year, Subhuman entered Studio 73 (Slowmotion Apocalypse, Ephel Duath, Extrema) and shortly after they signed a deal with young Canadian label Maple Metal Records.
Profondo Rozzo is named after Dario Argento’s horror story Profondo Rosso. Rosso was changed into ‘rozzo’, which means rude. And ‘rude’ this album is. For 35:37 minutes, Subhuman bring fast, grooving, rhythmic and aggressive Thrash / Deathrash Metal with both a punkish and grinding attitude. The elements are: guttural and growling vocals, sharp killer-riffs and a heavy and energetic rhythm section. Unfortunately it does not convince whole the time. The members are enthusiastic performers, that’s for sure, but the total lack of originality might be bothering. The introduction of Bay Area-elements hasn’t been done properly, and the vocals, especially the guttural Thrash screams, give me a headache after a while. Besides, the technical compositions don’t come with a decent sound; the production is too hollow. Not everything, however, needs to be negative. Some parts are of an acceptable quality, and a track like Odio Chiama Odio, with a rather original lyrical approach (dealing with dogfights, seen from a dog’s point of view), pleases me. The album gets better towards the end, I guess; the second part consists of stronger tracks. However, I’m afraid it isn’t but the better average???

70/100

Ivan Tibos.