REVIEW: Blind Equations' "DEATH AWAITS" via Prosthetic

In the past couple of years cybergrind has started to gain a following and no name is more synonymous with the genre than Blind Equation. 2021’s Life is Pain was a short and sweet demonstration of real emotional cybergrind and a testament to James McHenry’s musicianship. Since then he’s grinded out the shows, spread his reputation and now is here to deliver a sophomore record that is even better than the debut and with a label behind it this time around.

Cybergrind does have a tendency to sound like metal-inspired video game OSTs and that is very true on Death Awaits, but even at that the tones and compositions go deep. The depth of the production on the title track is incredible. “Speedrunning Life” has a synth riff that is simultaneously catchy enough that it's fun yet stressful enough that it sounds like the final stage of a boss battle. It also takes dips into chord changes while always arriving at the base working of the whole thing. “You Betrayed the Ones You Loved” paints an image of a dark, decrepit dungeon and slowly transitions into something adjacent to dance pop and makes me move in my seat. Aside from the grindcore influence, James sprinkled hyperpop throughout the entire record. “Never Getting Better” is simply a pop song and while it isn’t my favorite cut on the album I really admire it as something that this project put their all behind.


Above all I’m incredibly proud of James for touring everywhere from laundromats to house shows, getting everyone on the internet to say “cybergrind” and as a victory lap getting Prosthetic records to back his no guitars record. He’s an incredible composer and vocalist, the production on all vocals are great on the record and his project has put me on the path toward a genre I wouldn’t otherwise check out. I am in no way familiar with the features on this record which only tells me I have some homework to do.


I liked this record


Favorite tracks:

  1. death awaits
  2. speedrunning life
  3. you betrayed the ones you loved
  4. fade away
  5. choke
  6. never getting better
  7. killing me [feat. Rat Jesu]
  8. suffering in silence [feat. DEATHTRIPPA]
  9. warmth
  10. the last glimpse of me

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best of Month: The top 25 songs of the year

Hi, it’s me, it’s Claudia, and today I’m going to do something I haven’t done yet. So every year I do the top ten singles of the year, but I don’t actually even listen to singles anymore. Unless I know they’re going to be singles, like on their own, otherwise I feel like they’re spoiling the record for me. This year I thought it’d be fun to broadcast my top twenty-five songs of the year because I do this every year for friends, mainly myself, but now it can be content. So, this won’t be a highly produced blog post and instead be very casual but hopefully you’ll get something out of it. If you’re coming from Reddit read the link below before leaving any comments for me on here or Reddit itself and let’s get started. Also, quick note. Some of these did not come out this year but are on records released this year. In those cases, assume I haven't heard the track till this year. Coming from Reddit? Start here! #25 “Glow in the Dark” by Mothica is from Rocksmith+ but it's also just
Read more

Best of Month; the Top 10 Albums of 2023

Image
2023 has come to a close and it was a lot to unpack. After relocating last year I had to figure out what to do next, admittedly a scarier process than moving itself. I’ve settled in now, changes have gone on, there were a lot of hard times and a lot of great memories made throughout the year. You may have noticed, if you’re a long-time reader, I was far less open about my own personal life in my reviews. If you’re new and this is your first year here, then hey you never knew this part of the blog. In these blurbs there are personal anecdotes, but they are far less revealing. Regardless, thank you for even clicking here. This year for my own writing was possibly the best yet. I reviewed more albums in one year than ever before and worked with ten artists to promote their stuff before the release date. If all the stars align there’s one more thing coming out this year. I hope you had a great year yourself, are having a relaxing holiday season and enjoy this recap of albums. Please suppor
Read more

Best of Month: The final reviews of the year

Image
Best of Month! We wrote so many reviews this year there were a ton leftover. So, to open the year end stuff this year, we're emptying the vault. There are a few pre-requisites for reading this year (but only if you came from Reddit) So look for that below. From Reddit? Start here! Rat Jesu - Prepared to Die (Drixxo Lords) I have been a pretty public cybergrind defender on the timeline, but in all honesty I haven’t dug into the genre on my own time. I’m not sure if you would consider Rat Jesu cybergrind but they’re definitely part of the movement, in fact I came to this record by following this artist from a feature on the newest Blind Equation. As I said above, Prepared to Die isn’t so much cybergrind but it is a neat, quick nu metal record with hyperpop influence. James from Blind Equation does show up as a feature and the song he’s on is a hit regardless of genre. My favorite track on the record, however, has got to be “Priestess of the Godless Valley,” There are two other featur
Read more