PORKFARM

It is hard to really go wrong with most death metal CDs on Deepsend Records, as the label picks its acts with care. PORKFARM's "Blood Harvest" is no major disappointment, especially considering that I'm a fan of the style, but still isn't quite up to snuff when compared to most of the label's releases. That really only means that "Blood Harvest" is a better than average brutal, technically proficient, DM EP, just not that much better.

The primary flaw on "Blood Harvest" is the sound mix. The drums sound too mechanical (especially the kicks). That and an overall flatness that doesn't allow the guitars to shine bright enough hurt the effort to a certain extent. Fortunately, one gets used to it after the first song or so, which brings with it the realization that the affair could be better, but the annoyance level is mild at worst.

Modern DM brutality with grindcore elements (e.g. certain fast tempo segments coupled with the requisite screams as an alternative to the growls) generally describes "Blood Harvest". The UK act offers up a handful of respectable arrangements emphasizing savagery and tempering it with a sprinkling of attention-grabbing riffs. Both "Severed & Bound" and "Torn Apart" exemplify the act's strengths in these areas and bode well for future output. Though not as insanely technical as an ORIGIN or a BRAIN DRILL, one can hear the influences in the vocal patterns and guitar parts. The staccato growls on "Torn Apart" even recall James Lee (ORIGIN). The little things, such as the slow grind segments and harmonic squawks on "Sickening Dismemberment", make a big impact too.

The bottom line with "Blood Harvest" is that if you're a fan of well played brutal death, then you'll probably get something out of this one. I enjoyed it, even though there are several other death metal CDs I would grab first when I need a dose of heavy medicine.