About.com Rating

While many death metal bands go over and above to create a grotesque image, some find a more no frills approach refreshing. Enter California’s Rude and their debut Soul Recall. It pays homage to Pestilence’s Consuming Impulse and Morbid Angel’sCovenant, for starters.

This is another excellent throwback to the early days of death metal and a great combination of both European and US death metal on full display.

Vocalist Yusef Wallace leads the charge with a major nod towards Martin Van Drunen as his dry throated vocals suit the pace of this music. Insane guitar riffs meld together the wackiness of Patrick Mameli and sheer intensity of Trey Azagthoth. David Rodriguez has certainly done his homework.

The album opens with the track “Haunted,” which evokes “Dehydrated” in its delivery of manic vocals with riffs placed alongside for a more intense feeling of hopelessness and fear. The bludgeoning that takes place during the first half of this album is relentless and topped off with the excellent 7 minute opus “Memorial,” which features solos and riffs just shy of “Angel Of Disease.”

The bass line really pops heard and heavy on the title track, with the bass being high in the mix and only adding to the mind-bending that goes on. With all of this old school death metal coming into the fray, it seems that Rude have continued to add to the success of FDA Rekotz who also boast Chapel Of Disease and Skeletal Remains to name a few.

Rude are a bare bones death metal band with an eye towards the past; a band that respects the roots of this music and plays like they existed 25 years ago. For those inclined to check out some stellar OSDM this side of 2014, get on Soul Recall ASAP.

(released June 3, 2014 on FDA Rekotz Records)