I can usually listen to most deathcore and find something I really enjoy in the respective album. The most recent submission to Real Metal Reviews was a real eye-opener to a whole new breed of deathcore. North Carolina deathcore outfit Labyrinthe have recently been turning some heads (360 degrees to be exact). Shortly after signing to Tribunal Records, the band released their debut album entitled ‘The Depths of Hell’. Labyrinthe composed an album that leaves the listener in a horrific state of mind.
Labyrinthe begin to show off their unrelenting aggression from the very first tune, “Body Chute”. The song is heavy with breakdowns, blasting drums, and ravaging screams. Combining traditional death metal elements and fusing them with widely popular deathcore facets, ‘The Depths of Hell’ covers the genre to tickle any metal heads’ fancy. The album contains a plethora of pulsating guitar riffs accompanied with some very dominant bass work. The drumming fits very well with the production as well. It wasn’t anything that was mindblowing, yet it wasn’t the worst. Vocals brought the production’s sinister and demonic feel to a whole level. It was a real treat to the listener.
Labyrinthe’s music is focused too much on being deathcore. Don’t get me wrong, ‘The Depths of Hell’ is REALLY heavy. The production quality is top notch and manages to capture it perfectly. If there was more of a death metal approach, Labyrinthe could be a major force to be reckoned with. Every other time there was a breakdown, a part of me really wished that it could have been some sort of intricate solo. Though, there are a few scattered throughout the album. The guitars could have been more of a highlight on ‘The Depths of Hell’. It is obvious that Labyrinthe has a ton of concealed potential and needs to utilize it.
Labyrinthe have gained notoriety in the metal scene with their lyrics alone. Incredibly explicit anti Christian lines are the main influence of their writing style. The following lines are taken from the last song on ‘The Depths of Hell’ entitled “Cauterizer“: “There is no resurrection, it was all just a bullsh*t lie. Hung and left for dead is how that f*cking f*ggot died.” At times, their intention does feels a bit over the top. Songs off the album I enjoyed the most were “Body Chute”, “Razor Wire Noose”, and “Saw Mill Road”.
‘The Depths of Hell’ clocks in at just under 29 minutes. The length of the album is about average which keeps the listener entertained the entire time. It earns a rating of 7.5/10. If you are a fan of Carnifex, Whitechapel, and/or Byleth then this should be added to your collection immediately.
‘The Depths of Hell’ was released on February 7th, 2012 via Tribunal Records.
