Necrot "Blood Offerings"

    Unforgiving, relentless and ear splitting riffs of crypt desecrating madness is what Necrot unleashes upon the metal world with their debut full-length album, “Blood Offerings.” These Bay Area death metal musicians have become a force to be reckoned with amongst the underground metal community. The time just seems right for them to make their conquest across the brutal landscape of extreme music by showing no mercy with the release of their debut album.

    After the release of their compilation of remastered demo songs, “Labyrinth,” I have noticed Necrot feverishly putting in the effort and keeping their extreme brand of old school sounding death metal firing on all cylinders. The work ethic is what I respect the most about these guys and the songs on this new album demonstrate what it takes to truly craft some brutal pieces of cranial crushing metal. “Blood Offerings,” is the perfect conjuring of raw old school death metal with a brilliant and unmistakable sound that comes from years of passionate dedication for extreme music.

    Like any great trio in rock or metal history, the skill level combined creates such impactful music. The vocals provided by singer and bassist Luca Indrio are bold and merciless. Sonny Reinhardt's vicious guitar playing abilities add such a boost of aggression. Also, his lead parts are precise and get to the point instead of being an extra thirty seconds  of aimless shredding. Drummer Chad Gailey plays an important role laying down some crushing drum parts. The recording of his drum sound on the new album is well executed and injects tremendous force into the already bombastic sounding riff sections.

    Out of the eight tracks on the album, you are going to find yourself struggling to choose a favorite. For the opening song, “The Blade,” the band unleashes a blistering assault of riff carnage. Chad ushers in the destruction by pounding out some thunderous rhythms from his kit. Sonny’s guitar solo provides a wicked touch to the already devastating sound by offering a flurry of sinister sounding notes that are perfectly incorporated into the song. Track number two, “Rather Be Dead,” wastes no time and dives into the chaos with a rapid fire sounding verse section. The riffs are very catchy and provide optimal moments to bang your head. On the next song, “Shadows and Light,” Necrot maintains their feverish old school sound with Luca presenting some haunting growls. The title track off of the album, “Blood Offerings,” is ferocious sounding and keeps your attention focused on the monstrous sounding instrumental compositions. Sonny’s string bends toward the end of the song send chills down your spine as the song comes to a close.

    The second half of the album is just as solid as the first half, so there is little time to catch your breath. Song number five, “Empty Hands,” sounds like something from the Tucker era of Morbid Angel. The tempo fluctuates yet conveys this sound of suffocating musical brutality. “Beneath,” and “Breathing Machine,” hit you hard in the gut with thick distorted guitar and bass riffs. The final song, “Layers of Darkness,” begins with a bone grinding riff of relentless chugging fury along with Chad’s intense style of drumming. There are no dual moments, so until the song ends you will be possessed by the unholy sounding power of Necrot.

    From the impressive recording quality to the consistent songwriting, "Blood Offerings" is an album for all those fans who enjoy old school death metal with an unforgiving spirit of unfound brutality. Also, the album is a great example of what happens when a band does not hastily throw material together and knows how to write a strong album from top to bottom. Necrot may not be reinventing the wheel of extreme music, however, their tight sound and solid songwriting skills are quite desirable in the world of extreme music at the moment. We need more bands like Necrot and less bands that sound like a tsunami of musical diarrhea...

Make sure to get your copy of the album from either Tankcrimes (CD) or Sentient Ruin (Cassette). Two great DIY labels from the Bay Area! 

Necrot "Empty Hands"

Interview: Necrot

Even though they are busy touring and promoting the release of their new album, "The Labyrinth," Necrot was kind enough to answer some questions I had for them. Being one of the Bay Area's most talented extreme acts with a sound heavy enough to demolish a building, it was a true honor to interview these dudes. Here is the complete interview below...

Hi there guys, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. I notice that you are quite busy with playing shows in the Bay Area, small tours here and there, and now you have out this full-length release called, “The Labyrinth.” Necrot seems to be firing on all cylinders right now! Is there any time for rest?! 

Necrot: Hey! Thanks for the interview! As a matter of fact we are getting very little rest at the moment. We are driving to Michigan to play the fourth show of our East Coast/Midwest tour. We are having a blast with our friends, Skullshitter, from Brooklyn, New York. We have another week and a half to go but we're ready to raise hell and party hard!

I guess I’ll begin by asking, what finally made you guys want to release a full-length with all your past demo tracks? Also, these are remastered from what I have read, so how was that whole process and are you pleased with the remastered tracks? 

Necrot: Releasing this compilation album was always a goal for us but we never had anyone seriously commit to putting it out. We had been talking with Scotty from Tankcrimes for a while at different times and eventually he offered to release the record for us. To say the least, we were into it and started putting everything in motion. Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound remastered all eight demo tracks for the new record and we were happy with how they came out. 

For, “The Labyrinth,” you worked with Tankcrimes and Sentient Ruin, who both put out the release on their labels and have given fans a chance to own a physical copy of the album in a variety of forms. What was it like working with both labels on putting out this release? Also, what is your favorite form of the album: vinyl, CD, or tape? I guess eight-track will be out next year...

Necrot: Working with Tankcrimes, Sentient Ruin, and Extremely Rotten has been very easy since we are all friends with each other. We've known all of them for years so it worked its way out naturally. My favorite form of the release so far is the LP. The vinyl was pressed on three different colors and includes a poster insert and a download card.

Being apart of the Bay Area metal community for a decent amount of time now, how has the scene evolved in your opinion? Also, before Necrot were any of you involved in other bands and did that help contribute to Necrot’s sound when you three came together? 

Necrot: When we were starting out there were a lot of great bands from the Bay Area that were playing death metal. Over the last few years, many have disbanded or are working behind the scenes writing new songs and recording albums. Most of the newer bands in the Bay Area are punk, black metal, or funeral doom. It seems like everything is getting darker which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Before Necrot was started, Luca was playing in Acephalix, Vastum, and Lawless. Chad was playing in Bruxers. Sonny was playing with Saviours and occasionally Word Salad. I think playing in these bands before Necrot helped us form our sound and ideology that we wanted to put forth for this band. 

I apologize in advance for asking the standard question, but could you list some of your musical influences growing up? As much as I’m sure old death metal bands played an important role, are there any other bands you listened to that might have shaped your musical identity? 

Necrot: We all grew up listening to punk and metal in its many forms. Some influence for Necrot would be Autopsy, Immolation, Death, Morbid Angel, Motörhead, Grave, Nihilist, Discharge, Repulsion, and Bolt Thrower

Over the years Necrot has shared the stage with a large amount of acts, however, who have been some of the most memorable bands that you guys have played with? 

Necrot: Extinction of Mankind, Hellshock, Undergang, Master, Exhumed, Brainoil, Skullshitter, Toxic Holocaust, Bone Sickness, Eyehategod, Steel Bearing Hand, Lightning Swords of Death, Trenchgrinder, Necrophagia, Venom Inc, Ghoul, Rude, Cannabis Corpse, Scolex, Mortuous, Cyanic

I was wondering, since Necrot seems to be a band that has a strong veteran like presence in the Bay Area extreme music community, what advice would you give to some of the young bands starting out? I think your strong songwriting skills and tour wisdom would be very helpful and informative. 

Necrot: Practice all the time, don't be an asshole to people who support you, believe in and think for yourself, don't sell yourself short, don't let drugs and alcohol overtake your passions, and most of all support other bands in your community. 

Looking ahead here, is there any chance us fans can expect a full-length album with new material? Plus, will it be as brutal and unforgiving as those past demo tracks, or will you throw listeners an extreme progressive curve ball? 

Necrot: We have a new album written and we will be recording it after the tour at Earhammer. To say the least, we won't disappoint!

Well, thanks again guys and keep destroying on the road and in the studio! Cheers! \m/ - Rob

Necrot: Thanks, Rob! 

Necrot Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/cyclesofpain/?fref=ts

Necrot "The Labyrinth"

    The unforgiving and brutal musicianship that comes from SF Bay Area Old School Death metal maniacs, Necrot, is unmistakable. Their mammoth sized riffs of distorted terror conjure dark noises capable of tearing apart listener’s ears and devouring their souls. Finally, after only releasing demos the band has put together an eight tack release titled, “The Labyrinth.” Thanks to Tankcrimes Records and Sentient Ruin, fans can finally get themselves a physical copy of the release.  

    The tracks featured on this album are actually the old demos remastered, which  gives the pieces a new breath of extreme and unholy life. Necrot is one of the most respected bands in the SF Bay Area extreme music underground, and even though they formed in 2011, they have influenced a fair amount of current acts. This trio captures the energy and passion of old school death metal, while grinding away at some of the most brutal sounding cuts of music. Singer and bassist Luca Indrio commands the attention of listeners with a vicious sounding vocal delivery. Adding to the band’s behemoth world demolishing sound, guitarist Sonny Reinhardt shows off his versatile guitar abilities, while maintaining a wicked sounding riff attack. Drummer Chad Galey is the guy in the back who feverishly pounds away at his kit. When he strikes that bass drum, the sound echoes like the sounds of a malicious thunderstorm. 

    Honestly, these guys have such a massive sound that you find yourself asking, is this really a trio, or is their some hidden member from a world beyond adding to the band’s sound? The opening track, “Consume Control,” begins with such a thick sounding guitar riff that is complimented by Chad’s rapid attack drumming from behind the kit. Necrot even adds a bit of sludge and hard punk into their sound which some listener’s might catch. It definitely shows how the band is able to offer more than just repetitive old school death metal worship. “Contagious Pain,” “Into the Labyrinth” and “The End,” are ferocious sounding tracks with perpetual sounding brutality inflicted upon listeners. 

    The final four tracks on this release remain very true to Necrot’s extreme music making identity. “Cycles of Pain,” happens to be one of my favorites and I really like the old school sounding guitar riffs Sonny hammers out. Songs like “Scattered” and “Rebirth in Chaos,” capture the spirit of old school Swedish death metal, which might appeal to fans of Entombed, Grave and other groups in that vein. The final piece to the album, “The Abyss,” is Necrot’s last intense sounding offensive. All three musicians contribute such an equal amount of talent and energy that you can really tell these guys are a solid band. 

    I think Necrot’s, “The Labyrinth,” has been well worth the wait for those fans wanting to get a full-length release from the band. Also, the recording of each song truly reflected their extreme songwriting skills, so whoever recorded this release deserves some major credit and respect. Necrot may not be the most progressive and technical old school style death metal band around, but their straightforward approach is undeniably top notch. If you are looking for a blazing no nonsense sounding release of old school death metal, you need to get this album! 

Necrot Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/cyclesofpain/?fref=ts