Severely testing the limits of how far technical metal can go while retaining a groove, Quebecs Beneath the Massacre have finally dropped their debut full-length after 2005s excellent Evidence of Iniquity EP. And all the elements that made that EP such a jaw-dropper are here: ludicrous guitar runs, insane blast beats and a wild grindcore race to the finish line combined with a heavy dropkick of hardcore groove. Perhaps a bit tamer than the EP, as the band have a solid 30 minutes to stretch out on, the record incorporates Meshuggah-like off-kilter grooves (the end of opener "The Surface and all of the brief instrumental "Untitled) and some new sounds altogether (see last track "Sleepless and wonder how people are still making new noises from guitars). The drumming is still absurd, as "The Systems Failure and "Better off Dead prove; Justin Rouselle is clearly the next guy to watch in Canadian extreme drumming circles. And this is the next band to watch, because even if the technicality and extremity can be a bit over the top, at times, they, like Despised Icon, have all the chops of their metallic Quebec forefathers but leave behind the cheesy metal airs. Hell, there are even a couple of memorable riffs on this thing, to boot.
The album seems a bit more toned-down than the EP, a bit less crazy.
Vocalist Elliot Desgagnes: The structures of the songs are much better than on the EP, so its more coherent in some ways, but as far as guitars and drums go, the new songs were much harder to play. I personally think the CD is even more intense than the EP, songs like "Long Forgotten and "Modern Age Slavery are at another level of craziness.
Do you have fun playing live or do you have to concentrate too much?
It depends on how things go on stage. When we start having technical difficulties, it easily can turn into a nightmare (laughs). Or if one of us is not feeling well, I think it shows more easily than with other bands.
When does technical music go too far? And does BTM cross the line?
I'm not a big fan of crazy technical stuff, so I sometimes tell Dennis [Bradley, guitars] to calm down on some parts. Sometimes he pushes it to a level that I think is borderline and other times, he agrees with me and lets it go.
(Prosthetic)The album seems a bit more toned-down than the EP, a bit less crazy.
Vocalist Elliot Desgagnes: The structures of the songs are much better than on the EP, so its more coherent in some ways, but as far as guitars and drums go, the new songs were much harder to play. I personally think the CD is even more intense than the EP, songs like "Long Forgotten and "Modern Age Slavery are at another level of craziness.
Do you have fun playing live or do you have to concentrate too much?
It depends on how things go on stage. When we start having technical difficulties, it easily can turn into a nightmare (laughs). Or if one of us is not feeling well, I think it shows more easily than with other bands.
When does technical music go too far? And does BTM cross the line?
I'm not a big fan of crazy technical stuff, so I sometimes tell Dennis [Bradley, guitars] to calm down on some parts. Sometimes he pushes it to a level that I think is borderline and other times, he agrees with me and lets it go.