Band: Mastic Scum
Title: Dust
Label: Twilight Zone Records
Distribution: Bertus
Release date: 01/04/2010
Review: CD

The ‘old’ (almost 20 years) formation Mastic Scum is one of the most experienced and highest appreciated bands within the Austrian Death / Grind-scene. Their former albums, with ‘long’ titles as Zero (1999), Scars (2002), or Mind (2005), were highly acclaimed, and in 2009, the quartet entered the studio for the recording of their fourth full length (the compilation Collections, 2007, not included), called Dust, which was mixed and mastered by Andy Classen (Legion Of The Damned, Disbelief, Belphegor, Tankard, Varg etc) at Grindlab Studio.

As from the very first riffs of Ashes To Dust, you’ll experience the evolution the band underwent. This track is a short, slow yet massive Death hymn with a battering sound. And indeed, the band’s evolution into colossal and draconic Death Metal gets at its peak this time. The former Crossover / Grind-influences are of lesser importance, yet technical precision (The Will To Kill, Regression, amongst others) and masterly craftsmanship are. Besides, the whole still comes with a unique old school-flair (listen to Revelation Of Mankind, A Life For A Lie, The Consciousness In A State Of Mind etc) and the album completely lacks of modern gadgets or neo-progressive elements.
The overall tempo is much slower too than before. Most tracks are slow to mid-tempo-oriented. However, several parts are greatfully speeding up with anger and fury.

Duration: forty two minutes.

88/100

Ivan Tibos.