Those with an affinity for first death generation death metal are no strangers to the name Sadistic Intent. Although they never released a full length, or ascended to the heights of their era’s peers (i.e. Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel, etc.), their name is synonymous with old school ripping death metal, and their EPs and demos are the stuff of legend. So when the news came out three members of the band’s classic lineup have united for a new deadly venture, I was all ears. From the ashes of Sadistic Intent circa ’90 rises Lurking Terror, named of course after the classic song of the same name on SI’s Impending Doom… EP.
While the songs featured on Lurking Terror’s debut EP, A World in Darkness, may be new, the approach is anything but. Vocalist Enrique Chavez, guitarist Vince Cervera, and drummer Joel Marquez absolutely tear it up with a collection of songs that, from a songwriting and production viewpoint, sound lifted straight out of death metal’s heyday. Joining them in this unholy union are bassist Lorenzo Kemp and rhythm guitarist Noel Bello, the latter having served time with hellions Infernal Conjuration and arcanists Infinitum Obscure. Together, these five are ready to destroy your stereo with pure tormenting death, old school style!
A World in Darkness opens in absolutely devastating fashion with the crushing “In Darkness”. Chock full of blasting drums and those hornet nest riffs akin to death metal’s demo days, “In Darkness” establishes this band’s ethos, walloping us with lethal speed and a punishing graveyard crawl to boot. The brutality continues with “End of Days”, which boasts some truly air guitar friendly riffs and solos, yet still maintaining its murderous age. Through it all, Chavez growls into the mic with the same demonic possession as the Impending Doom… days, which is damn impressive considering that’s going on 35 years now.
After these two opening neck-snappers, “Venomous” serves as a bit of a curveball, although I use the term lightly. With its murky Autopsy-esque lead riff that appears throughout the song and d-beat driven drums, I can’t help but hear shades of old school punk amidst the pummeling death on display. “Overcome or Obey” picks up the pace, its riffs sounding a tinge death/thrash at times akin to forefathers Possessed, but still primarily more death than thrash. Closing it all out is the blistering “This is War”. Perhaps it’s just my ears, but the riffing and phrasing is giving off hints of early melo death à la At the Gates. Don’t worry elitists! There’s no clean singing or slow commercial passages to be found on this release, so don’t be scared away.
Lurking Terror has given us A World in Darkness, and we’re just living in it. If these first five songs are a taste of what this band is capable of in the future, heaven help us the day they decided to drop a full length…that is, if they do so. Perhaps they’ll keep in the kvlt Sadistic Intent tradition of demos and EPs only? No matter what their plan of attack, we’re here for it in all its impending doomful glory. Lurk on Lurking Terror, lurk on!
7 out of 10
Label: M-Theory Audio
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Sadistic Intent, Morbid Angel, Necrovore