Ingrowing
Cloned & Enforced
8
I couldn't have been listening to Ingrowing particularly closely when I first checked them out. I remembered the band as mindless deathgrind and didn’t expect to especially enjoy listening to or reviewing their album. Either the band have made a significant stylistic shift since their last release or my memory is failing me, because their latest is an engaging amalgam of several styles; Ingrowing’s blend of crust, thrash, and straightforward death metal is well worth checking out, and the band’s unusual riffs and dissonant elements make them all the more interesting in a scene where uniformity is often the norm.
What immediately strikes me about Ingrowing is their ability to combine genres without coming across as contrived or disjointed. The vocalist channels Roger Miret of Agnostic Front on the track “New Flesh to Cultivate”, but the band pay homage to Napalm Death on the very next cut. Their ability to transition fluidly among the various styles that influence them gives Ingrowing a high score in songwriting. Their compositions are complex and intricate, and though their inspirations are evident, the degree to which they mimic other artists is limited, and it is clear that their own musical vision is what guides them.
The musicianship on this release is strong, with some pretty intricate guitar work and average but competent drumming. The vocals are a standout point, comprising everything from black metal screams to hardcore shouting and death metal growling. Crunchy production accentuates the record’s positives, making it extremely listenable.
If you’re in the mood for a band that combines a lot of good aspects of the last ten or so years of metal, check out Ingrowing. That may be overstating things, but the point is that Cloned and Enforced is a fun, heavy album that should hold some interest for any fan of modern extreme music.
