Does anyone else remember Dripping Decay? We reviewed their debut album, Festering Grotesqueries (2023), upon its release, and were taken aback by the sheer grossness of it all (far from a complaint, mind you). An EP entitled Ripping Remains followed in early 2024, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, they split. Yet as we all know, no band truly dies, and while a Dripping Decay reunion is off the table for the time being, in their places rises Ripping Remains: A new entity named after their predecessor’s final EP. The band consists of former Dripping Decay members Eric Stucke (vocals, guitars) and Jason Borton (drums), as well as newcomer Frei (bass), who just so happens to run the label handling the band, Satanik Royalty.
Together, these three have picked up right where Dripping Decay has left off. There is essentially no difference in terms of approach, both musically and lyrically speaking. Coming off like the musical equivalent of grave robbery, Necrodestiny throws it back to death metal’s demented, gore-soaked heyday. There’s no fancy showmanship or accessible melodies, no slick production or hardcore tomfoolery. No, Ripping Remains bludgeon the listener with four songs of pure unadulterated death, and the obligatory horror synth intro to boot.
Following the synth/sound collage hybrid that is “Carbonized Effluvium”, the rabid title track kicks things off properly. Just like Dripping Decay before them, Ripping Remains’ brand of OSDM worship highlights throat-shredding low gutturals reminiscent of Impetigo’s Stevo, as well as chunky, flesh-rotting riffage via both guitar and bass. When you pair these three sonic instruments of torture together with the deadly drumming of Borton, you’ve got one hell of a metallic menace on your hands. “The Horror Writes Itself” keeps the onslaught going, its d-beat tinged drums and quick-shifting tempos recalling the heyday of Carcass and Pungent Stench.
The Impetigo influence continues to rear its ugly, zombified head on “Rub My Infection on You”, which if I didn’t know better, I’d mistake for the title of a lost GG Allin tune. Similar to the title track, it’s sloppy, gross, and soaked in blood, bile, and lord knows what other fluids. The lumbering “Maternal Rot” closes things out in a crushing manner, although I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. Being a death/doom dirge in the mold of Mental Funeral era Autopsy, I should be all over it like flies on shit, but for some reason, it doesn’t resonate with me the way the other three songs do, and even those old Dripping Decay songs do.
For the time being, I’m going to file Ripping Remains in the “shows strong potential” category. Don’t get it twisted, this EP still obliterates 99% of the utter bollocks that bears the “death metal” tag on Bandcamp today. Aesthetically speaking, it’s close to perfect, boasting all the elements I and any true deathaholic wants from a DM release. I just feel that with a greater focus on writing and arranging, Ripping Remains can rip even harder than they do already. I sure hope they go onto do so instead of mutating into another band entirely.
6 out of 10
Label: Satanik Royalty Records
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Dripping Decay, Impetigo, Repulsion