Taipei Metal

Review: Beyond Cure - Chronically Fester EP

Taiwan’s Beyond Cure serve up a deathcore beat-down on their debut E.P., Chronically Fester.  No strangers to breakdowns, the occasional bout of melody, and the odd unabashed pig squeal, this E.P. is a diverse effort with heavy doses of  the two main influences on the band, hardcore and death metal, though nods to acts like As Blood Runs Black, Whitechapel, and The Black Dahlia Murder are readily apparent. Many listeners will probably see the parallels between the tongue-in-cheek humor o f TBDM and Beyond Cure as well.  But make no mistake, as any humor that is thrown in, mostly via the pig squeals, does nothing to detract from the overall heaviness of the music.

Vocalist Dob proves equally adept at both the high and low end of the death vocal spectrum, frequently switching back and forth between the two frequencies, while the twin guitar assault of Mick and Kenichi, otherwise listed somewhat comically as Love and Hate in the E.P. liner notes, is a weapon that is utilized with both precision and brutality when a song calls for either. Drummer Owen possesses some of the fastest hands in the Taiwan metal scene, and bassist Larry just might be one of the most technically-superior bassists that the island has to offer. The songs on the E.P. make good use of hardcore-like breakdowns and death metal sweep picking.  Songs seem to follow a somewhat predictable, but still powerful formula, building to a powerful crescendo, leading into a breakdown, followed by a final attack, usually either in the form of a blast beat or an outro breakdown to end on an appropriately climactic note. Chronically Fester hopefully represents a taste of what fans can expect from a future full-length release from a band that, thanks to their highly-energetic and tight performances, has become one of the most popular live acts in the Taiwan metal scene.

For Fans Of: The Black Dahlia Murder, As Blood Runs Black, Winds of Plague, Whitechapel, Suicide Silence

Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Derange My Mind
3. 96
4. Save Yourself
5. Violent Sick
6. Berserker

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/beyondcure

by Joe Henley