Now this release is how you make an impact with a debut. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Nuclear Tomb has been a part of the scene for a while. Now they are ready to conquer with their first full-length album, entitled Terror Labyrinthian. What we have here is a potent blend of death and thrash metal, joined with a variety of influences. Sometimes the band utilizes a punk aesthetic, while at other times they embrace the more technical, progressive side of extreme metal. But what Nuclear Tomb consistently provides is strong riffing, excellent rhythm work, and compelling songwriting. Death and thrash fans must not miss this excellent release.
The production is exactly what I want from a release like this. The sound is quite clear, with every instrument audible in the mix. Yet, at the same time, the quality is not clinical or sterile, but sounds natural. The musicianship is at a notably high level, with the drum (JD Lookabill) and bass (Amelia Morris) work not only providing a solid foundation, but even excelling and making an impact. Both the rhythm and lead guitar (Matt Ibach and Michael Brown) work is top notch, firing on all cylinders. Vocally, Brown provides the appropriate level of aggression and grit without becoming cartoony. The songwriting allows for an appropriate level of dynamics and hooks—both vocal and instrumental. Thankfully, given the intensity of the music, Nuclear Tomb keeps the album to a crisp sub-33 minute running time.
The album kicks off with “Obsoletion.” This track starts off with some foreful dissonance before a killer riff comes in at about the 35-second mark. The track is speedy and compelling. I would describe the sound here as controlled chaos. The end of the track features some really cool riffs.
The title track follows. This track is chaotic, dissonant, and speedy. The guitar runs here are impressive and we also get some blast beats. But in the midst of the intense chaos, Nuclear Tomb does not neglect the riffs. The drum work on this song is impressive and the vocals are delivered well.
“Fatal Visions” kicks off with some great instrumental work. The rhythms in the intro hit hard. The verses are both aggressive and hooky, and the solo here is killer.
An ominous intro begins “Dominance and Persecution.” We get some quality riffing and about 50 seconds in the song begins in earnest. The pace here is quite speedy and intense, but the band still finds time to groove. The bass work is a highlight. About halfway through the song slows down and gives us good riffs and a compelling atmosphere.
“Vile Humanity” begins with drums and great bass work. We then get a cool, punky riff, blended with some more technical leads that are quite compelling. The leads here are simply shredding. This song is an album highlight.
Complex rhythms and great riffing kick off “Manufacturing Consent.” The song speeds up and sports some remarkably quick riffing. The tempos in this song alternate, making for a dynamic listen.
“Parasitic (Live a Lie)” features razor-sharp riffing and compelling drumming. The intensity just doesn’t let up, and the solo here rips.
A doomier sound follows with “Born into Torment.” The sound here is very heavy and crushing, and the riffs are quality. This song is not without hooks, despite being crushing. The lead work here is a highlight.
“Ashen Lamb” concludes with the album with more great riffing and rhythm work. Once again the song is quite intense and hammers the listener—in a good way. The solo is well done. When the track slows down it keeps the riffing quality high. This song is a dynamic tune and a great way to conclude the album.
I am very impressed with Terror Labyrinthian. Nuclear Tomb demonstrate that they are masters of their craft, and they also show clearly that they are not neophytes in the metal scene. The sound is great, the songwriting is compelling, and the musicianship is top notch. All extreme metal fans need to make this release a priority listen.
Curtis’ Rating 8.5/10
Tracklist
01 Obsoletion 3:18
02 Terror Labyrinthian 3:23
03 Fatal Visions 2:28
04 Dominance & Persecution 4:26
05 Vile Humanity 3:29
06 Manufacturing Consent 3:57
07 Parasitic (Live A Lie) 2:25
08 Born Into Torment 4:19
09 Ashen Lamb 4:55
Line-up:
Michael Brown – Guitar/Vocals
Matt Ibach – Guitar
Amelia Morris – Bass
JD Lookabill – Drums
Discography:
2019 – “Succumbing” Ep
2022 – “Offer Your Life” Ep
For fans of:
Voivod, early Pestilence, early Sadus, Suppression
Formats available:
– CD
– Vinyl (summer 2024)
– Tape
– Digital
Technical info:
Code: SPIT088
Music and Lyrics by Brown except “Obsoletion” and “Terror Labyrinthian” by Morris/Brown and “Vile Humanity” by Brown/Ibach
Engineered and mixed by Sebastian Phillips at Hotbox Audio Recording Facility
Mastered by Brad Boatright (Audiosiege)
Additional lead guitar by Demir Soyer
Artwork by Lucas Korte (Shoggoth Kinetics)
Graphic contributions by Matthew Scott and Giorgio Spevo
Logo by Cavan Hoover
Links:
[MAILORDER]
[BANDCAMP]
