The Kennedy Veil

The lines blur ever closer between pure old school death metal and modern core-leaning death with bands like the Kennedy Veil, which is pretty surprising given their home on the always-brutal Unique Leader Records. What makes you think this is a bunch of fresh-faced shorthairs is the insanely clinical production (which effectively strangles much of the soul and impact out of the sound) and the somewhat enunciated and yelled vocals. On the flip side of the deathly coin is lots of great riffing and blasting, evidenced on songs like "King of Slaves," which makes you wish they'd dirty up the production, focus on that kind of intense riff/drum interplay, and go in for the kill. As is, there's a frustrating lack of connection between much of the music and the listener, although if you're suckling at the teat of ultra-slick, clean-sounding technical death, this is quality stuff. Me, I'm waiting for a bit more humanity to emerge next time.