CD Review: Whitechapel - A New Era Of Corruption

Whitechapel
A New Era Of Corruption
3/5

Listen To: Reprogrammed To Hate
Skip It: End Of Flesh

For a relatively young band, Whitechapel has seen a huge amount of success since starting up in 2006. You can tell by the masses of Whitechapel t-shirts sticking out more and more at metal shows - they are instant fan favourites. With such a commanding presence in the scene, these Knoxville young'uns have a daunting role to fill with their latest album, A New Era Of Corruption.

This is the third album in a line of standard death metal from Whitechapel. Beating double bass and racing blast beat drums support technical tri-guitar battles, and continuous throaty growls coupled with thrashing screams. Along these lines, you can assume Whitechapel has an unmistakably categorized death metal sound.

Aside from some the untraditional death metal delay guitar effects on "Reprogrammed To Hate" and "Prayer Of Mockery" that contrast the rest of the record, A New Era Of Corruption dishes out tell-tale death techniques. "End Of Flesh" is a prime example: demonic growls, elevating guitar leads, and a classic, overworked death acoustic bridge. "Unnerving" opens with a minor note hell-orchestra that we've all heard a thousand times.

There are also treats for listeners on A New Era Of Corruption. The entire disc is a showcase of technicality, like "A Future Corrupt" with its mathematical fills and riffs. And there is a welcomed sense of death mayhem projecting from all angles. However, while punchy, hellish, and understandably ear catching for death metal devotees, this record lacks stand alone originality. When a band captures the scene's attention, there needs to be proof of valour within their musical pudding. For Whitechapel, quickly reaching the centre of the metal sphere, I still don't feel obliged to jump on the bandwagon.

Track Listing:

1. Devolver
2. Breeding Violence
3. The Darkest Day Of Man
4. Reprogrammed To Hate
5. End Of Flesh
6. Unnerving
7. A Future Corrupt
8. Prayer of Mockery
9. Murder Sermon
10. Necromechanical
11. Single File To Dehumanization

Published by Tangible Sounds Music Magazine