RSS Feed


GRUESOME
Silent Echoes

Relapse (2025)
Rating: 7.5/10

Back with another slice of genuine Death worship, American combo Gruesome this time pays homage to Chuck Schuldiner’s classic opus Human, which was released back in 1991. With Human, Death really started to expand their sound, lacing extremity with subtle complex variations and progressive streaks. The only way in which Schuldiner could fully create this masterpiece was to enlist the aid of guitarist Paul Masvidal, bassist Steve DiGiorgio and drummer Sean Reinert.

Replicated with sincerity, Gruesome – featuring Matt Harvey (vocals and guitar), Daniel Gonzalez (guitar), Robin Mazen (bass) and Gus Ríos (drums) – embarks on their third full length opus, coming seven years after 2018’s Twisted Prayers.

I’m sure, as with previous outings, that Silent Echoes may split opinion. There are those who will salivate over more homage and others who may sneer at such mimicry. Even so, there’s no denying the technical qualities offered here alongside the riveting riffs and Harvey’s savage expressions. Maybe we should just sit back and appreciate what Gruesome has and is still doing, because while the foursome blatantly uses the Death template for design, the band still constructs its own brand of death metal.

Ríos does a fine job of echoing Reinert’s sorely missed drum patterns, particularly on the intricate framework of ‘Frailty’. Mind you, Reinert was a mentor for and best friend of Ríos up until his untimely passing in January 2020. However, there’s not a lot here that’s full on aping. Instead, Gruesome builds on a foundation of chunky riffs and deathly gasps.

‘Shards’ begins with a thrashy nature, the drums hastily shifting before some mid-paced melody glisten at the 1:40 mark. On ‘Fragments Of Psyche’ you can really hear the Reinert influence as Ríos weaves his magic to Mazen’s DiGiorgio-styled bass twists. It’s clever stuff in spite of the obvious influence as Gruesome effortlessly dabbles with complexity without sacrificing any form of weight. ‘Reason Denied’ is effectively jarring in its introductory jabbing riffs, but again it showcases the colossal contribution of Ríos who is utterly devastating behind the kit.

Silent Echoes is what we expected, but it still delivers in every department. Will the Gruesome persevere in covering the sound of Death? I imagine so, and I look forward to it.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share