To say that there is an ungodly amount of bands that at least try to bring old school death metal to their sound would be an egregious understatement the likes of which the metal world can do without. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful that the style has found new life in recent years and continues to be a hulking zombie which no one can truly kill, but there are a lot of bands out there that really seem to half-ass it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad suspicious that Innards might miss the mark even by a little, but, like many times, the universe has proven me to be false yet again.

It was really the name of this three-track debut EP that had me going as I thought Innards was trying to be one of those bands that attempt to inject humor into their work trying to spin the style on its head without really doing anything different, but, fortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the case. “Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” is certainly a title I wouldn’t take too seriously, but it’s the three songs that it contains that shows massive presence and undeniable power that Innards already has damn good control over. Such dominance over their craft is not something I’d normally expect from a debut EP of any kind, but Innards proves to be one name that’s not to be underestimated or fucked with. Even featuring vocals from the likes of Kam Lee and a guest solo from Frank Blackfire, along with a nice intro clip from the ever-classy Evil Dead, “Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” has much more to call its own than just riffs that are as venomous as they are heavy and a presence that’s as persistent as it is malevolent. It’s a great display of talent and understanding of the style that so many struggle with in order to make it work, but it’s here at every turn that Innards prove that they are far from an act to be ignored or anything along those lines as it’s with “Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” that we get a promising start with just as much seething death metal that we could hope for.

It’s a band’s debut that can really help listeners understand what we’re to expect from the given band in the future, and it’s here with Innards that we’re lucky enough to see one band out of the legions of others actually do justice to the realm of old school death metal. “Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” may be a name that some snicker at and then turn away, but I cannot stress enough how much you shouldn’t do that.

“Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” releases on February 21st via Transcending Obscurity Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Back From the Grave, Straight In Your Face” on Bandcamp here.

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