By Phil Cooper
Australian heavy riffers Sumeru are nearing their first decade of output and they show no signs of slowing. Having recently changed the line-up with the introduction of Jake Willoughby on vocals, Sumeru have continued to develop since their last full length ‘Summon Destroyer’. ‘Blood Ordinance’ is a snap-shot offering that looks to showcase the punishing high tempo sludge that these Sydney heavyweights have become known for.
Kicking off with ‘Cold Chamber’ and the uncompromising nature of the band is clear to see. The bass and drums form the introduction before the guitars round out the powerhouse combining dominant riffs with tremolo picked lead lines. The frantic energy of the lead lines matches the unrelenting rhythm section creating a thick textured mix, with everything clearly identifiable yet forming one colossal bruiser. The vocals cut through with clarity yet the guttural and aggressive delivery mimics the music brutal delivery. In this way they are another key component of the Sumeru sound yet do not get lost in the packed-out texture.
‘Foundry of Dread’ takes a slightly different approach in that it is lead more by the guitars than the rhythm section. The guitar intro morphs into the main phrasing for the riffs and builds from there. The guitar attack guides the music into a more frenetic pace than the previous track. It is impossible not to get swept up in the momentum generated by this track. While the rhythm section holds down the underlying power and produces the thick textured backdrop, the dual guitar riffing is what captures the most attention. The interplay on the verse sections drives the melody yet the catchy chorus and breakdown riffs are the main takeaways and have the power to create an earworm out of what is a doom-laden sledgehammer of a track.
It’s over pretty quick, but ‘Blood Ordinance’ will absolutely have you hitting the replay button. Over the course of ten minutes, Sumeru have been able to successfully create an EP that showcases their sound to new listeners, appease their loyal fan base that they’re not running dry when it comes to creativity and also show everyone else just why they have got to where they are and what they are capable of. We’re in the early days of 2021 and this is this sort of sound that is needed to blow the hangover of 2020 away. The subject matter of the tracks may cover heavy weight material and the sound of the combined band is brutal but it is one hundred percent fun. It creates all the good feeling that great metal should while hammering out of your speakers. All being well, we’ll be treated to a full album in the near future from these guys giving us something more to gleefully bang our heads to.
- ‘Blood Ordinance’ is released tomorrow (Thursday 21 January). You can get your copy HERE.
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