Review of Ektomorf - Instinct

The MetalReview Temporal Engineering Corps have been working overtime. In accordance with the Many-Worlds theory of quantum mechanics, the Corps have created a device to allow me to travel not only back in time to 1997, but into a parallel dimension. A dimension where Max never left Sepultura, and instead they camped out in the studio and made the eventual follow-up to Roots. This is the story of that sequel, released under the pseudonym of Ektomorf.

OK, so I’m stretching the truth a little bit there, but the fact remains that these Hungarian guys sound a lot like how Sepultura sounded in the mid-90’s. While there are many people that think that Max and Co. took a wrong turn with those two albums, the fact remains that a substantial number of metalheads know and love those albums of stripped-down groove/thrash. Ektomorf confidently builds on that sound with an album that is very decent considering that they rarely ever get too complex.

Vocalist Zoltan even sounds a lot like Max, just more intense. Where the two bands differ is that Ektomorf play a little harder and a little faster…and there’s no tribal filler. I hear a minor Machine Head-like dramatic vibe in the closing track, “I Will”. Simple, fast chugging riffs and fierce vocals underpin this song, along with a nice solo. “Burn” kicks off with an irresistible groove riff, although it devolves into gentle noise at the end of the track. “The Holy Noise” is one of their more adventurous songs, incorporating a strong hardcore influence, in particular, bass-driven breakdowns. The production on Instinct is totally skewed towards the bottom end, with additional layers of fuzz over the guitars, but that’s what this kind of metal demands.

Instinct is a solid album, but occasionally the guys fall into the trap of redundancy which is hard to avoid when playing music like this. However, the usual formula of tight drumming, powerful and primitive riffage, rumbling bass, and a great metal voice results in a chunky, thrashy sound that is a very fun listen; car ride and gym metal, rather than headphones-while-walking-through-the-woods metal. Obviously this album comes recommended for fans of a certain band.

Release Details

Ektomorf

Instinct

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