Fun fact! We’d been sitting on a review for lead single “Malthusian Dependency” for quite some time because, as it happens more often than not, we let it fall by the wayside for too long and had to move onto the next thing. But, as luck would have it, that single was the precursor for a the full-length you’re reading about here called The Moral Chokehold. And we’re glad we waited because being able to gush on 10 new tracks from the New England-based modern Metal maestros in Death Rattle over just one lone single is the gift that keeps on giving.
Speaking of New England, opener “The Lead” is how you start a Metal rekkid, kehd! And we can say that because we’re Central Massholes at our core! Anyway, “The Lead” gives a taste of a little bit of everything that’s on the way with Ryan Vanderwolk’s masterful shreds, Justin Brown’s undeniable earthquake-inducing low end, Chris Morin’s perfunctory percussive attacks, and Trey Holton’s beyond savage vocals coming together for a modern Metal masterpiece.
And that’s just the first track!
The one that kickstarted our journey, “Malthusian Dependency”, is one that we can only describe as having a “New England sound” in regards to the type of Metal it heralds. There’s that old school Shadows Fall/Overcast Metalcore beginnings in there but also Kilgore (Smudge, if you know) kinds of Groove Metal with Holton’s abrasive rasp acting like both a ringmaster and drill sergeant. “Nietzche, and the Fall” brings to mind early Sepultura and modern Gojira with the wall of sound that Morin and Vanderwolk bring while “Immersed in the Black” gets even MORE feral than what’s already dropped.
“Veils Of Consciousness” goes instrumental and lets up ever so lightly with Brown’s rumbling echoing Geezer Butler’s iconic bass work at times followed by “Social War Machine” which is a veritable anthem with the way Holton belts out the chorus. “Venom in the Crown” is pure, headbanging delight and a mosh pit-ready rabble rouser featuring another killer chorus with “Noctivigant” leaning into those Groove elemnts and reminding us a little of the often overlooked Threat Signal. “March Of Delusion” is a Death Rattle dirge, treading in darker Grunge waters to start before becoming a sticks slamming riff-a-rama as “The Darkness” pops in at the end to remind fans that Metal can be just as intense with the tempos locked at a medium pace.
The Moral Chokehold drops on July 11th through M-Theory Audio and you can get your pre-save/pre-order on now by heading here. For more from Death Rattle, including all the latest on their recently announced European dates for September with Atheist and Origin, head to the information superhighway and stop off here or here for the socials!