SlavEATgod - Blank Core Inn

The Greek five - piece act bearing the intriguing name, only recently released its first full – length album. Blank Core Inn was a debut highly expected, as the band has been vivid enough during the last years to gain a fan base of its own, regarding the local Athenian scene. In any case, what matters is the emerging question: did slavEATgod manage to keep up with the expectations shrouding them?

     First and foremost, the band performs a musical blend revolving around two key and fundamental axis: the Swedish death metal and the metalcore one (another view would be the European and American bred sound, respectively). The melodic death metal references are constant and shoulder the main musical weight. Additionally, SEG’s sound is fresh, and modern. This actually bears more meaning than one may think at first sight: Blank Core Inn sounds as an attempt to modernize/ update the melodic death metal sound. The metalcore influences actually come in aid; as a new genre that is, holds freshness by definition, and that certainly refreshes the first axis (The Quitter exemplifies the combinationdescribed). Furthermore, the In Flames influences are apparent ( e.g.  Back To Blank’s chorus riffage, Quick Sands of Shadows’ main theme). Plus, the guest female vocals, performed by Nicole, add a mainstream accent to the debut (a fair one, making it an easier listening). All in all, a modern, pleasurable release.

     Blank Core Inn’s production is an impressive one; having been mastered by Peter In De Betou at “Tailor Maid Studios”, the sound is as thick/ solid as one can get. Plus, each instrument is constantly distinct, and clear. Technically, SEG’s adequacy is prominent. On guitars (CRS, Sinnik), the duo’s riffing is intelligent the least, aggressive at parts, smooth at others; the solos’ width is also notable: from the ultra - technical, yet melodic soloing (Sinnik) to the humble feeling of the bluesy interlude on Purpose to Defeat (it is noted that Markos Iliopoulos performs the first solo of Back to Blank). The bass lines (Stelios) are also remarkable: the fact that the lines are continuously distinguishable aside, what captivates one’s attention is that they are not “subjugated” to the guitar tune (Purpose to Defeat’s chorus is hell of an example). The drumming (Andy) is actually modest. Although the patterns are not mind blowing (in terms of ideas, not speed, that is) the use of double bass pedal and blast beats is rare: they are both summoned only when necessary, and that’s quite mature and…different. On vocal duties, Invoker stands aggressive (that’s what his singing extract) and confident (confidence runs the album in whole actually).

      As for the lyrics, these seem to be structured on the motif of the interaction between the subject/ singer and its source of aggression: be it a memory or a face to face enemy. A sense of sexism‘s definitely in the air, shaping the album’s aesthetics. The metrics are also technically adept (the vocabulary features a richness quite rare to the genre). What is interesting is that the lyrics’ content is correlated with a specific image in the booklet (overall, the cover/ booklet is professionalism’s breed).

     On the cons, two are the drawbacks spotted: the unjustifiably massive use of breakdowns, and the unequal inspirational density that the compositions feature. In any case, to sum it up, Blank Core Inn is an enjoyable debut, where its pleasurableness derives from its directness; a synchronous release worth listening to, a release of confidence. SEG invites one to enter the Inn. Dare it.

Stelios(Ω) 8/10