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Rot Away

Heavy Weight

Written by: PP on 13/11/2023 16:47:57

Copenhagen's brutalized, blackened hardcore crew Rot Away recently released their sophomore album "Heavy Weight" to unsuspecting audiences. Much like its predecessor, it is a down-tuned, aggressive, testosterone-laden punch in the face that's best described using adjectives like vitriolic, raucous, caustic, razor-edged, and even scary. The last word, in particular, is suitable for describing the manic growl/yell/bark combination of vocalist Jonathan Albrechtsen, whose aggressive stance commands the pit and indeed "Heavy Weight" with a frightening demeanour.

The album opener "Ghost City" is bound to become an anthem within the local hardcore scene given its gang-shout ready "COPENHAGEN GHOST CITY" parts that hammer themselves to your memory right away. "Swing The Hammer" will incite a two-step session in a live environment, I'm sure. "Stabbed In The Eye"? Yes. It sounds exactly as its title depicts. It's a thorny, ferocious pitch that comes across as morbidly catchy given its "STABBED. IN. THE. EYE." shouts during its chorus. "Dying Moon" is groovy and relentless, underscoring the uncompromising nature of the record and indeed Rot Away's sound in general.

Stylistically, the band continues to reference bands like Terror, Trap Them, No Turning Back, and Expire to name but a few. Fist-pumping, adrenaline-fueled metallic hardcore of international quality played through a blackened lens. The only track where they slightly step away from this format is on "Sleepwalking", which nigh-on lands into metalcore given its lingering riffs and atmospheric bits. It's one of the highlights on the record, and as such it would be fascinating to hear more akin to this style on future records.

Overall, "Heavy Weight" lives up to its title. It's a two-tonne war machine of blackened hardcore that's abrasive and uncompromising but remembers that a brutalized expression alone isn't enough to stand out. Rot Away's debut was a masterclass in delivering as close to hooks as you can get within hardcore. "Heavy Weight" continues in the same realm, if only with slightly less impact as it doesn't come with the blow-the-gates-open surprise factor as their debut did.

Download: Ghost City, Dying Moon, Stabbed In The Eye, Sleepwalking
For the fans of: Terror, Trap Them, Lifesick, Lionheart, No Turning Back, Risk It!, Expire
Listen: Facebook

Release date 23.09.2023
Self-Released