Perhaps I can be forgiven for being incredibly late on turning in this review. We’re all ‘Human‘, right? Regardless of your penchant for mercy, Gruesome is back with their familiar take on ‘Death‘ Metal. I had to get my puns out of the way quickly before talking about the music, but the question begs, do we need to?

You know the band’s foremost inspiration, and if you didn’t, the first paragraph should clear it up. The real question is whether it’s worth your time to check it out. It’s difficult to deliver an answer succinctly. How about an ambiguous one at the end?

I thoroughly enjoy “Shards” with Matt’s “Schuldining” vocal style. The riffs and solos are fiery. However, it is difficult to ignore that all-too-familiar chord progression. I mean this with absolutely no disrespect, but Death is one of my favorite bands of all time, and it makes me want to listen to them. Perhaps that’s the point, though.

The title track, “Silent Echoes,” is a banger, too. Gus Rios’ drumming, of course, deserves a mention as it’s the perfect backbone. It’s once again difficult to distinguish Matt’s roar from that of Chuck himself, but I submit again that this is the point. That dirty ass riff around 1:30 leads into a frankly excellent chorus. What would it be without a badass solo to follow it up, including some finger-tapping (the other kind, creeps)?

In comes “Fragments of Psyche” a little later, and that intro gives me a fondness for nostalgia. This could be the most Death-worshipping of all the songs. The chorus, followed by that slightly proggy “breakdown,” then a killer solo hits the spot. Is it derivative? Sure, we’ve established that, but when it’s this good, does it matter the inspiration?

It wasn’t my intention to go in order, so I’ll just have to deal with the first track being the last I mention. “Condemned Identity,” while being the opening track, that distinction probably could have gone to any on the album. Yes, it sounds like Death again, as if that was ever in doubt. While the production is borderline clean, it still carries significant heft. The main riff is chunky, meaty, and all other kinds of adjectives you don’t want to use for regurgitation. It’s fine for metal, though.

My final thoughts are banal and diplomatic. I hate not being able to give a clear answer. However, it’s ultimately up to each listener. I know several people who have remarked that they’re tired of new bands getting recognition off the backs of the originators. I’ve also heard others who want to take the album on its own, make no comparisons, and love it. I understand the former and simply can’t do the latter. Without Death, there is no Gruesome, so it’s impossible to think of Silent Echoes as a standalone. I will say it is enjoyable, but with such a flawless discography from Death, I’m not sure why this album is necessary.

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