In recent years I’ve tried to expand a bit on my knowledge of classic death metal whenever I can. Usually these gaps of knowledge means that whenever I come across new bands I am either impressed where a jaded fan wouldn’t be, or I’m missing something a band does that’s well established and building on what’s come before. In Tormentor Tyrant‘s case, my initial spins had me enjoying it free from associations to anything else. Eventually I read up on the promo text and saw a few FFOs like early Cannibal Corpse and Deicide used to describe what debut album Excessive Escalation of Cruelty sounds like, and I can confirm that Tormentor Tyrant roughly deal in this kind of raw pre-seperation from thrash metal sound of classic death metal. In particular, I would describe Tormentor Tyrant as a more restless Deicide that are more willing to fly off their mid-paced rails into red rage swings for your face. In short, expect Excessive Escalation of Cruelt to hit with the exact vibe that its album cover screams with its red dead rage as several faces of death metal history blend together.
Starting out with a few short and snappy songs, it seems like Tormentor Tyrant are set on putting their own spin on their influences. The first few songs delve into the thrashy feel of the 90’s Florida scene of death metal while also, to my un-educated ear, sound like they inject a selection of bass bouncing Bolt Thrower riffs in between. Some shrieking guitar accents appropriately echoing Slayer also make it to the final stir of the pot. There aren’t really any bells and whistles in this first half of the album apart from how pissed of the vocals are, making for solid meat and taters-songs that feature some odd but well selected spice to go along with it. When “Crueler Tomorrow” arrives with its slowed down opening and throws a few tremolos in for dramatic effect, things take an interesting turn. The song runs along at an almost grindcore pace with its intensity, and feels like it’s building up to a payoff that doesn’t come. Most of these songs have this kind of intensity that comes in waves, making for an album that propels itself along well through its 27 minutes. It’s pleasing enough to listen to and makes for a quick shot of hero worship that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Rounding up things, “Heavy Death Bombardment” caps off Excessive Escalation of Cruelty with a song that brings back that Bolt Thrower groove and even throws in a riff that sounds a bit like Darkthrone. This song sees Tormentor Tyrant at their most creative, not only melding their influences well but settling on a core idea that goes between swirling tremolos and a marching groove. It also, unfortunately, pours some cold water on the flaming face of the album in that this song feels the most developed one of the entire record. It’s the longest song, and that also shines a light on the fact that the other songs aren’t as developed as I would like them to be, limiting how confident I feel that I’d recommend Excessive Escalation of Cruelty to anyone but people hungry for new bands doing this exact sound. Tormentor Tyrant have a good base with their furious sound yet I find myself wanting for more focus on solid ideas in the songs, their overall trajectory and willingness to reach just a bit further outside of the band’s influences. They seen to have the potential to make something that turns people’s heads if they do.
