Devoid – The Invasion EP

29th January 2014 0 By Suzie Rottencrotch

I’m a big fan of both thrash and death metal, and am always interested when a band manages to incorporate elements of both into their music.

Mumbai based Devoid were previously an all out thrash band, releasing the well received A God’s Lie in September 2010 through Demonstealer Records. But now, following a line-up change, they have apparently evolved their sound to include some seriously heavy death metal influences.

So when Kunal Choksi from Transcending Obscurity India approached me and ask if I was interested in reviewing the new Devoid EP, I jumped at the chance.

The album starts with ‘Intro‘, a brooding classical guitar track complete with subtly atmospheric sound effects – before things really kick off with the relentlessly punishing sonic assault of title track, ‘The Invasion‘. It’s fast, heavy as hell, and does an awesome job of blending thrash, death, and groove metal elements.

Each track on The Invasion is unique enough that it won’t get boring or samey, and each has something different to offer – from the moments of early Megadeth like riffing on ‘Pandemonium is Now‘, to the Machine Head like pounding attack of ‘Brahma Weapon‘. But at the same time there is an overall sound and vibe that holds everything together nicely, and gives the EP a cohesive feel.

The overall sound is a raw one, but the production quality is first class and nothing is lost in the mix. Each instrument can be heard clearly and the rasping vocals compliment the music perfectly.

It’s only just over 20 minutes in length, but at a mere $4 from Devoid‘s Bandcamp page (see links below) you really can’t complain – do yourself a favour and check it out !

Score: 8 out of 10