Blackened crust is an appropriate title for a sound that is as disgusting as the burnt shell that encloses overcooked food. It combines two of heavy music's most virulent strains into a noxious mix, as the two build upon one another to synergistic effect. Young and In the Way have been churning out the blend since their 2009 formation. Their latest, When Life Comes to Death, finds the band performing at their peak when punk is peeking through or taking control nearly entirely.
The punk-y "Betrayed By Light," "Be My Blood" and "Weep In My Dust" find the surrounding crust not so blackened as a little sugar-coated, with a surprisingly catchy sound. A little further blackened are "Fuck This Life" and "Final Dose," which come close to Italy's blackened crust masters the Secret.
As the band move down the incline to downtrodden black metal territory, the album slips without the crusty energy. It's only when they embrace the bombast and theatrical flair of the notoriously evil genre that they exploit its vitality. "Shadow of Murder" tenderly sets the stage for the bastard of a ten-minute epic that is "Embrace Extinction," which closes the album with funereal synths and inaudible whispers. It's a suitable end for an album that truly find its vitality through its deadly sound.
(Deathwish Inc.)The punk-y "Betrayed By Light," "Be My Blood" and "Weep In My Dust" find the surrounding crust not so blackened as a little sugar-coated, with a surprisingly catchy sound. A little further blackened are "Fuck This Life" and "Final Dose," which come close to Italy's blackened crust masters the Secret.
As the band move down the incline to downtrodden black metal territory, the album slips without the crusty energy. It's only when they embrace the bombast and theatrical flair of the notoriously evil genre that they exploit its vitality. "Shadow of Murder" tenderly sets the stage for the bastard of a ten-minute epic that is "Embrace Extinction," which closes the album with funereal synths and inaudible whispers. It's a suitable end for an album that truly find its vitality through its deadly sound.