Brand of Sacrifice - The Interstice

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Billed as a brutal death metal band with a roster hailing from both Toronto and Manhattan, BRAND OF SACRIFICE is a band comprised of members of THE AFTERIMAGE and ASCARIASIS. Frontman Kyle Anderson summarizes the ever growing threepiece as “born from a thirst for an uncompromisingly \[sic] crushing, modern take on the classic death metal/hardcore formula. This is achieved by utilizing a number of influences from several musical genres, aside from extreme ,etal. Moreover, Brand Of Sacrifice incorporates a choir and an ensemble of ancient instruments from past centuries such as the sitar, harp, lyre and many others. The band draws its name from the popular manga called Berserk by Kentaro Miura."

The five song EP gives a fitting prelude of the violence to come, all the way down to familiar art style from the man behind the artwork of RINGS OF SATURN. The group commented, saying: "The Interstice offers the listener a journey through an abyssal sphere of sonic tyranny. Thematically, this extended play is brought to life with artwork illustrated by Mark Cooper. Between several passages on this extended play, we are offered a glimpse of hope from the ethereal orchestral arrangements. Enter The Interstice and witness the terror that lies within."

Opening with war horns blaring and an arabesque sitar and plowing into a crushing slam of blast beats interspliced with sweep picking and grooves. A choir section at the end proves the band intends on adding diversity to the very derivative slam genre. “Casca” begins with pure speed of more blast beats and trilly guitars only to slow it down with a devastating breakdown with pig squeals and frequent time changes. “Conviction” begins with layered lows and pig squeals that make it sound like the frontman has been gargling whiskey and cigarettes for years. With more time changes and elements of atmospheric black metal, the track sprinkles on even more variety to the bands repertoire. “Millenium” is easily the angriest track contained on the EP, a non stop beatdown that gives you every element expected from slam band all in a four minute period. The album closes with wonderfully composed instrumental with pianos and an atmosphere that gives the listener a false sense of security that is instantly smashed with more of the maniacal formula found hitherto.

Overall, “The Interstice” is a surprisingly solid entry in the often oversaturated genre of brutal death metal. It offers plenty of diversity, musicianship and production value that leaves the listener desperate for more.

Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Memorability: 7
Production: 9