Trigger the Bloodshed – Purgation
While Trigger The Bloodshed is a big deal over in the UK, America hasn’t embraced the death metal/grindcore band yet. Their debut album Purgation will turn quite a few heads, as their aggression and sheer brutality provide for an audible onslaught. However, what starts out as a golden opportunity to shake the death metal world turns into a one-trick pony that will leave many disappointed.
The young band has a lot of talent, especially in the rhythm department. Drummer Max Blunos isn’t old enough to go behind the wheel of a Beetle by himself, but he has the chops and speed to compete with drummers twice his age. His blastbeats are out-of-this-world and he mixes it up with various fills and double bass work. The rest of the band doesn’t match up to Blunos, but do a competent job at their respected instruments.
The songwriting presents its fair share of flaws. Trigger The Bloodshed shows the listener they know how to play fast and handle solid breakdowns, but that’s it. They only have one speed, and with the exception of the clean break in the beginning of “A Perfect Casket” and several pointless instrumentals, keep to that speed for the duration of Purgation. Eventually, the whole album becomes a blur, with nothing to differentiate the tracks. The shorter tracks are fine, but when the band reaches near the four minute mark on a selected number of tracks, the shortcomings in the songwriting become more apparent.
Trigger The Bloodshed is at their best when they immediately go for the kill, instead of stalking their prey and waiting for the right moment to pounce. Purgation has a lot going for it, but even at a short 37 minutes, it feels long and over-done. If the band sticks with the shorter, more grindcore-influenced material in the future, they could have longevity behind them. Purgation will please hardcore death metal fans, but for those that like a little variety in their life, Trigger The Bloodshed’s debut album will leave behind a sour taste of repetition.
Rating: 5.5/10
Label: Metal Blade
Website: http://www.myspace.com/triggerthebloodshed
(+14 rating, 3 votes)
I ain’t gonna lie, that review actually summed TTB up down to a tee.
Yup, that about says it.
Laceration was the only song I could listen to more than once on that album.
agreed .. there are some pretty impressive moments (Laceration) but only some ..