The expectations for any release from the group Depswa are higher than most acts out there, when judging by the fact the close ties the band members have had to groups like Spineshank, The Deadlights and Static-X in the past and thankfully this 4 song demo does not disappoint. Taking a page from groups like System Of A Down, Soulfly, Slipknot and the ill fated Chinga Monkey, the band bring out the hues of melody and infuse them into a tribal chug that touches upon a primal energy with thunderous stampedes of percussion and unorthodox breakdowns.

Vocally the release is somewhere between Spineshank's Jonny Santos and System Of A Down's Serj Tankian. Band frontman, Jeremy can conjure up provoked verbal aggression with the best of them, but also chooses to wander through the songs with a somewhat confused tone of voice, that lunges into gruff tribal chants and fluctuating words which heavily bring to mind the aforementioned Serj. The lyrical structures used are very freeform, and yet still manage to convey lethal blows of aggression with their urban tribesman like mystique. The technique used is perhaps their most alluring quality though, rather than sounding as if he's from some distinct ethnicity, they sound more as though he is lost in some concrete jungle he doesn't understand and is fighting for his survival against it with the oral energy he releases. Guitars are steeped well within the modern metal genre. Moderately downtuned, they grind and squeal with spiraling riff structures that are original enough to stand out on their own, yet somehow still manage to integrate themselves tightly into the song structures and add intensity while almost disorienting the listener with the eclectic parts they choose to play. Bass is a key component of the bands mixture and each song is thickly layered with a hefty dosage of downtuned lowend that comes closely tied into the groups riotous percussion. A slight funk influence rears its head occasionally during the duration of the 4 tracks, but for the most part, the basslines laid down are bottom heavy and punishing, making the songs become almost driven by them. The drumming performance included here is impressive on it's own, but it is also highlighted by performances from all 4 members of the group, who each add their own touch, utilizing various different percussive elements to construct what could be described as a vaguely tribal influenced style. But don't be fooled, as where most bands who dabble in extra percussion wind up sounding distinctly Latin or Brazilian, this group maintain a fresh outlook and stick to what they do best, making natural yet foreign sounding noises that actually work well together. There's also a sampling aspect at play within the bands sound which is used very sparsely if at all in this demo and apparently group frontman Jeremy is also said to be an accomplished didgerido player, although it's hard to distinguish whether the esoteric instrument is used or not here, with the constant crashing waves of percussion and looming bass.

The bands taste for vicious intensity and progressive ideals pay off well and give the release an ever necessary jagged edge that can lacerate just as easily as it can pierce when called for. But their melodic side also gives them a calming if not alienated sincerity and with this combined with the pummeling helping of bruise inducing percussion they choose to unleash, there is a great foundation in place for the band to excel upon and branch out into various directions. Still though, even though their music is refreshing and littered with intriguing sounds, there could be a bit more focus and restraint used, they can get a little too carried away sometimes and sacrifice structure for expansion, which is by no means a bad thing, but can tend to hamper the experience with so few tracks included for the listener to feast upon. Depswa may have been faithless when they released this enigmatic slab of music, but the hope and promise of things to come it instills is anything but. With some more time spent honing their craft and refining their assault, this group will easily leap over any obstacle placed in front of them on their quest to obtain the ever coveted record deal.
(4 / 5)