Artist: Whitechapel
Title: Recorrupted
Type: EP
Label: Metal Blade Records

I used to love buying EPs when you knew you were going to get something different that offered a sort of fix with live tracks, covers, unreleased songs, different mixes the usual offerings. Personally being the old duffer that I am I prefer unreleased treasures rather than different mixes which is what we get here from Whitechapel. This popular deathcore outfit has released three full lengths and it is from the last two albums that three of the songs are from. Alongside that is a new song plus a Pantera cover. This release is explicitly aimed at current fans of the band with no CD being available to the public for purchase through general sale, but instead can only be obtained through Metal Blade, their own webstore or at their gigs. It is also a limited edition and, according to the band, will not be repressed but we’ve all heard that before haven’t we.

The new song, “Section 8” kicks off in deathcore demolition fashion, and it is well known amongst my friends that I do really like deathcore despite the perpetual mauling the scene gets in the press, OK I draw the line at a band like The Browning. Archetypically the new tune kicks a thudding gut punch in the bass department with slamming riffs being backed by a resolute guitar harmony that pervades across the song. It only gets obliterated when the blast beat comes in which is fairly short before returning for another decent harmony lead. Closing the song is a huge breakdown and gang chant growl. The Pantera cover is “Strength Beyond Strength” and as you’d expect true to the original with only the guitar tone and vocals giving away that it is a cover. The pace is quick, maybe a tad faster than the original as the guitar sound suits the song being gritty and caustic. It’s funny how the original had deathcore like beats without knowing it.

The first remix appears as “Breeding Violence” which appears on their last studio album “A New Era Of Corruption”, hence the suitable EP title. Comparing to the original the remix is infused with subtle electronics and is a little shorter. The overall beat has had the main riff repeated with a short recurring loop. The bass has been trimmed and the vocals have been turned down a tad. The song sounds clinical as the drum sound sounds like it has been completely transposed with an electronic style. The same applies to the remix of “This Is Exile” the title track from the same album. Eerie electronics are eventually blended with the songs main riff, creating something not too dissimilar to other remixes that use electronics. I always feel that this sort of stuff destroys the soul of a song but fans today don’t seem as fickle about remixing as us older folk for some reason. Closing song is an acoustic version of “End Of Flesh” from the last album. The original is full on arm spinning, downward punching floor frenzied deathcore. The new version is certainly different and even though the original has an acoustic break in the song I suspect Whitechapel fans will ponder whether they like it or not and if they do whether they have personally wimped out (not the band) due to it. The song opens with the main riff being played very sweetly as this version is an instrumental. The body of the song is intact with the time and riff changes being played acoustically. I have to say the playing by the guys is extremely fast as the attempt to retain the originals character I think has been successfully done. As a release this is definitely aimed at their fans to check out as I stated earlier, which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a listen yourself but with only the first two songs representing the real power of Whitechapel you’d be better going for their last album which is definitely worth a listen, if you like deathcore obviously.

http://www.myspace.com/whitechapel

Martin Harris

MTUK HOME