There’s this vision in my mind that doesn’t shake loose for a second when I listen to Chi-town death metal fiends These Are They roll out the three sludgy, down-tuned cuts on their debut EP: basically, I’m walking down the street minding my own business when the Gates of Hell open up beneath me and swallow me whole.
Featuring vocalist Paul Kuhr from Novembers Doom on Cookie Monster vocals, guitarist Stephen Nicholson formerly from Novembers Doom cranking out the licks and shadowy grooves, drummer Sasha Horn from Trials hammering away forcefully, and bassist William Wells from Earthen driving the bottom line even further beneath the crust, These Are They can undoubtedly boast some serious metal street cred.
The band reunites Kuhr and Nicholson to rock the depths once again, offering more of Satan’s music for those bright, doe-eyed kiddies to enjoy.
And believe me, this is the devil’s music on overdrive. Ass-shattering bass threatens to snap subwoofers in half, lightning-infused guitars slash through the sonic structure, grave drums unbuckle the seatbelts, and Kuhr’s vocals discharge over it all with a murky sort of industriousness.
Who Manifest works well as a mouth-watering EP, that’s for damn sure. The band is currently in studio rolling out their debut full-length, so if this trio of tracks is any sign, fans of devious fucking metal are in for a treat later this year.
I’m not going to bother pissing about genres, as usual. Whether These Are They add up to a doom metal band, a death metal band, a sludge metal band, a stoner metal band, a Muppet metal band, or a dark black metal band with neon leanings is neither here nor there with me.
Instead, I’d rather chew over what Kuhr and Co. were thinking when creating this EP and what their motives were. From the devastating, strenuous intro to “The Indweller” to the down-tuned, encrusted growl of “Birthright Of The Saturnine,” it’s safe to say that These Are They are more concerned with stealing souls and shattering ear drums than they are with type deliberations.
Article comments