WILLOWTIP
From the wonky postmetal of Nug to Pyrrhon’s noisy malevolence to whatever the fuck Behold The Arctopus are, Willowtip were a shining beacon for underground extremity in 2020. Amidst Voices… raises questions as to whether that streak can continue into 2021. Worshipping at the tech-death altar of Cattle Decapitation and midperiod Death, Ominous Ruin’s debut is a marvel in terms of instrumental talent, with blasts and sweep arpeggios torrenting fast enough to break the sound barrier. However, the Californians can often emphasise flaunting their chops over such necessities as hooks and memorable songwriting. Deception and Attuned To The Chasm have their share of melodic licks, but these feel underplayed among lengthy cavalcades of complex yet soulless mathematics.
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