'One of the most promising new bands', 'the best of what the underground has to offer'...how many times has any of us based our hopes on such illustrious and colourful descriptions, only to be let down by the music of clearly untalented but easy to promote bands? Well, I am not going to use any of these expressions in order to describe what it is that this UK based outfit has to offer, but I will definitely say that it is not often that one comes across such a well-balanced and carefully made debut album.

Gutworm are one of those bands that refuse to place boundaries around themselves, but who also manage to successfully master all the elements which are incorporated in their music. The common denominator here is heaviness, and the artistic expression is presented through many different musical avenues from hardcore to extreme Death Metal, and believe me - the result is more than impressive.

I felt attracted to most of the ten compositions that are featured in "Ruin The Memory" from the first spin, but it was sometime later that I manage to understand how this album came to life. Regardless as to whether the band goes for hyperspeed guitar riffs like those in "Sick Inside" or mid-tempo shredders, there is an equal amount of energy that circulates throughout this thirty nine minute album. This energy derives from the band's constant flirting with hardcore, and even though they take full advantage of it's vitality and strength, they seem to be unwilling to allow it to have a major influence on the structure of their compositions. If you ever wondered what a Death Metal version of Pantera would sound like, you are more than welcome to listen to "Obscure Devotion". On the other hand, check out those Soulfly references in both "Blind From Truth" and "Incineration" and experience first hand how a band can successfully invest in their influences, without jeopardising their artistic integrity.

There are a few things, like Neil Hudson's persistence in using screamo vocals in most parts that can be slightly irritating, but the qualities that the members of Gutworm have to present in "Ruin The Memory" will manage to overshadow any such minor details. I hope that the people at Anticulture are willing to invest in this quintet, because they are definitely worth all the attention they can get. A very promising start.


***½

Review by John Stefanis