ITP REVIEW: SARCOLYTIC: THEE ARCANE PROGENY

BAND: SARCOLYTIC (AUSTIN, TEXAS-USA) GENRE: DEATH METAL LABEL: UNIQUE LEADER RELEASE DATE: 1/19/2010
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): LIMB SPLITTER (SPLIT-2006-OSSUARY INDUSTRIES), SARCOLYTIC (EP-2005-LACERATED ENEMY RECORDS)
BEST RELEASE: THEE ARCANE PROGENY (2010)

TRACKLISTING: SARCOLYTIC: THEE ARCANE PROGENY:
01. Thee Arcane Progeny
02. Exalted Gift Of The Abzu
03. The Seed Of All Beginnings
04. Manus Obscurus
05. Expulsion From Desolate
06. The Secrets Of Divinities
07. Emissary
08. Scribe Of Celestial Omen
09. Resurrected For Bloodshed

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: ***1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2
SARCOLYTIC are an Austin, Texas (USA) based slam/death metal band featuring members of DISGORGE, CINERARY (Rick Myers-drums), IMAGES OF VIOLENCE (Mark Denton-bass, John Zig-vocals) and SECT OF EXECRATION (Steven Watkins-guitar). SARCOLYTIC were conceived (2003) as a side project of said members primary bands whom all have credibility and potential of their own, as the band is now a full time project of said members.
SARCOLYTIC are brutal slam/death metal with a dark, occult vision of world disorder. At best, SARCOLYTIC combine some discordant rhythm riffs, slam death brutality with a splash of the melodic.
Texas death metallers SARCOLYTIC's "Thee Arcane Progeny" opens with the title track with an ominous intro and "UGGGGGGGGGGH". SARCOLYTIC's "Thee Arcane Progeny" is total brutal blast beat intensity, with riffs galore and some technical riffage from guitarist Steven Watkins.
However, the drum production could use some work, sounding generic, like the over triggered, typewriter drum sound, and I can barely hear the snare. John Zig's vocals invoke a Frank Mullen feel, with identical vocal phrasings with some backing screams here and there.
"Exalted Gift Of The Abzu" invoke some interesting time changes as the riffage is some what uninteresting. At 1:12 into "Exalted Gift Of The Abzu" the old New York Death Metal breakdown is invoked, kinda funny, and you KNOW you've heard this before. More interesting are the rhythm guitar riffs, invoking a dark brutality, and some technical aspects here and there.
"The Seed Of All Beginnings" invokes a dramatic, brutal intro as the tune shifts with good time changes, rhythm guitar riffs and and slam death brutality as you might have to listen twice to catch the myriad of riff changes.
"Manus Obscurus", clocking in at less than three minutes, invokes some intense brutality in the first few seconds, and then trades steam and brutality for atmosphere, or just lack of ideas for riffs, then back to riffs that mirror the vocals. "Manus Obscurus" chugs along for a while until
it picks up steam for generic speed riffing, and chug, chug, chug.
"Expulsion From Desolate" invoke some interesting off kilter riffing, combined with speed and brutality as the rhythm guitar pair in well with John Zig's vocal phrasings. "Expulsion From Desolate" invokes some melodic CRYPTOPSY like riffs, played tight before a left turn for some discordant riffing and some prog influences.
"The Secrets Of Divinities" is more intense brutality, although the guitar tone could be a little cleaner to bring out some of the riffs. However, "The Secrets Of Divinities" invoke some dark, brutal shiznit, pummeling you with occasional dark, atmospheric riffing.
"Emissary" invokes extreme brutality, melodic riffing and breakdowns. SARCOLYTIC experiment with melody and a "brutala-ful" breakdown :54 into "Emissary" and some interesting time changes.
"Scribe Of Celestial Omen" enters in with generic riffs played with conviction, and sometimes repetitive (1:00). However, as the song progresses, the rhythm riffs mesh well with the vocals for an interesting melody, setting a dark atmosphere (2:46) ending the song with that, almost epic riff.
SARCOLYTIC's "THEE ARCANE PROGENY" closes with the track "Resurrected For Bloodshed", crawling in with a mid paced tribal drum beat, before invoking melodic, almost black metal riffing. From there, "Resurrected For Bloodshed" uping the ante to quality slam death metal, with both melodic, mid paced, and brutal fast paced riffing.
Yes, SARCOLYTIC are one of those brutal, slam death bands and while not a clone of SUFFOCATION the bands riffs just aren't all that impressive. I would prefer better drum production as the snare and bass are barely audible, and a cleaner guitar tone.
SARCOLYTIC may define the bands identity within consolidating brutality and melody, making for an interesting dark atmosphere, which at best could be epic.
Otherwise, SARCOLYTIC aren't all that original, talented or interesting compared to band
members previous or primary projects and perhaps the lack of self indulgent wankery is just the point.
When SARCOLYTIC catch a melodic riff with some tight as hell, slam death brutality, it feels good, almost epic. With time and good songwriting, we'll be hearing from SARCOLYTIC again.

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: ***1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-