Band: Killface
Title: Faceless
Label: none
Distribution: Lugga Music
Release date: January 1st 2011
Review: MCD

Faceless isn’t but a mini-album (22:14), but what a nice one! The four tracks, all of them, are unique in a modest way, and that’s why this Irish quintet needs some attention. This year (2011 indeed), Killface will record their first full length, yet until now we’ll have to do with this self-financed recording, which got registered with Ivan Jackson (production + engineering) at the Silverline Studios.
The tracks combine old school with modern influences. The opening track Dysfunctional stands for nineties-oriented Death Metal with lots of Thrash-elements and 21st century’s elements, while the second track, Miserable, has more of a doomy hymn from Sweden or Germany about twenty years ago, including hints of grungy and grumpy Doom-Grind. Ultra-heaviness in combination with carefully composed melodies / melodics and psycho-grinding darkness, it’s a pleasure to listen at. Years Of Gore, the third track, starts doomish too, yet soon transforms into a mercilessly face-hitting and monstrous deathrasher. Yummie! Seven more minutes of pleasure. Hacked To Death, finally, is another rhythmic, up-tempo act of dirtiness, injected with skilled supremacy and sonic intelligence. Those differences in sphere and tempo, those nice, subtle additions (samples, guitar lines, inhuman tempo-changes etc), it might feel great to be hacked to death.
It is remarkable what an energy that has been put into this disc. Faceless undoubtedly must be one of the most interesting and refreshing (mini) albums within the European Death / Thrash-scene in quite a while, I guess. I do look forward for the upcoming full length in 2011, oh yes, I do.

89/100

Ivan Tibos.