Back in 2019 I went to a show at an auto repair shop of some sorts in Castro Valley, CA and watched four up and coming extreme metal bands perform. One of those bands was Spectre and that show was actually their first live performance. Overall, I thought that they played a solid set, especially considering that it was their first live show. Fast-forward to now and this Bay Area death metal act has finally released their debut EP titled, “Omen,” which in the end was well worth the wait if you ask me.
Spectre is a band that does not settle for that simple old school death metal worship tag, but they also do not go overboard with obnoxious technical arrangements that eventually end up sounding like a beehive of utter horse shit. Their sound reminds of old school death metal bands that thoughtfully experimented with ambient elements and atypical compositions, thus creating very haunting atmospheres to accompany the harsh death metal arrangements. If you are a fan of bands like Pestilence, Nocturnus, Morbid Angel, Death and Gorguts, then you are definitely going to find that Spectre draws influence from some of the bands I just mentioned. Also, the band’s lyrics are not painfully gimmicky to the point you start to wonder if they stole them from the back of a hipster metal cereal box which they probably sell at Hot Topic.
The first song on the EP is, “Assemblage,” which serves more as an introduction piece for the next track, “A Scream With Blood In Its Teeth.” I noticed when listening to the beginning of the EP that even though there is a flurry of technicality throw at you right away, the band is able to create cohesive and well structured arrangements. There is a massive amount of brutality injected into each composition, but the execution is precise and the transitions sound extremely tight. Songs like, “Trail of Wax” and “Symbiote,” feature some ferocious guitar and bass playing, as well as some punishing rhythms from the band’s drummer. Every just really comes together, so when the vocals start screaming over pestilent sounding landscape with a fearsome confidence, you just cannot tear yourself away from the band’s hellacious energy.
The final track on the album, “Omen,” is without question the strongest track on the release, and without a doubt my favorite. During the beginning of the track you feel this ominous presence which eventually fades away once the fiendish guitar riff comes bursting out from some inhuman abyss. About midway through the track the band decides to deviate from the monstrous death metal onslaught by exploring this very haunting celestial like sounding atmosphere. The guitar playing conjures up a breathtaking landscape that seem to guide you towards some unspeakable force hidden deep within the confines of a pitch black portal from another dimension.
In all, “Omen,” is definitely a great first glimpse into what Spectre is capable of creating and I think old school death metal fans will really want to check this release out. Also, I can definitely see this appealing to a wide variety of extreme metal fans, because the band's sound is very dynamic and the musicianship definitely catches your attention. My main recommendation for them is to keep pushing themselves as songwriters, which in the end will allow them to compose some even more profound pieces of music. Too many bands settle for the simplistic route and fail to really put forth the effort in their recordings, thus the metal world becomes saturated with constant copycats.
Check out the EP below:
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