Mammoth Grinder - Cosmic Crypt (Relapse Records) 2018
7
Surrounded by death metal legends on Relapse Records, Mammoth Grinder’s Cosmic Crypt is like nothing else. Right where 2013’s Underworlds left off, this fourth offering begins with a droning intro that becomes yet another death-metal-meets-hardcore frenzy.
Always cemented by Power Trip’s Chris Ulsh, the lineup this time includes Iron Reagan’s Mark Bronzino and Ryan Parrish; the thrash repertoire between the three is evident, still, and lends to the forceful riff-laden tracks that invoke a pit wherever they’re played. Always choosing speed and volume over gutteral barks and downtuning, Mammoth Grinder exists in its own death metal world that, whenever it decides to surface, destroys, rather than reinvents, the wheel.
Straddling the lines of metal, punk and crust, Cosmic Crypt is the ideal blend of anger and sheer “try me” attitude.