TRACK REVIEW- Closer to Hell by Bodysnatcher

BAND: BODYSNATCHER
TRACK: CLOSER TO HELL [FEAT. CHRIS WHITED OF KING CONQUER]



"YO, WHAT THE FUCK IS UP? BODYSNATCHER TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN, BRING BACK THE FUCKING VIOLENCE"

  With an introduction like that, little mystery can be left as to exactly how vicious the next four minutes will be.  Within seconds, you can already feel the hatred, the disgust, the unbridled, unadulterated rage vocalist Kyle Medina has been feeling since the release of the band's debut, Abandonment, in early 2015.   Never ones to shy away from relentless, ruthless riffage, the band has managed to capture the pure emotion put forth on Abandonment and expand on it one-hundred fold.  

  This is made possible by the collective efforts of Bodysnatcher, who's lineup is rounded out by guitarists Ben Bamford and Frankie Cilella, bassist Colton Whelan, and drummer Dylan Honkonen. Where Bamford and Cilella weave in and out of the spotlight with jaw dropping chugging and outright nasty groove, Whelan lurks underneath, ever so subtly, providing a rumbling, roaring, thunderous oomph with each passing second of the just-over-four-minute run-time.  Adding fervor and ferocity to the track is Honkonen, who beats the skins with such barbaric, brute force that gives the middle finger to technicality in a way that makes any sort of complexity meaningless and unnecessary.  While their previous EP demonstrated these traits effectively, they didn't really shine until this release.

  But of course, what good is a band improving their chops if their vocalist isn't up to scratch?Thankfully, Medina takes the book, beats the listener's skull in with it, and tosses it out the window.

While the whole of Abandonment seemed like Medina was doing his best Tyler Shelton and Jonathon Vigil impressions, Closer to Hell sees the frontman evolve into one of heavy music's most utterly inhuman. His gutturals are deeper, yells more emotional and full of raw hatred, and lyrical content more intense.  From the very first barks to the oppressive gutturals midway to the guest spot (taken up by deathcore titan King Conquer's drummer, Chris Whited) and the last downtuned chug of the song, Medina shows the listener that he's no one trick pony, letting loose with a vocal assault the likes of which would make Adam Warren afraid to close his eyes at night. In short, Medina is the genre's boogeyman, in that the mere sound of his voice alone is enough to make even the most hardened of pit warriors afraid to set foot in the mosh when Medina takes the stage. 

  Basically, to summarize this track in a blunt, honest fashion- it fucking rules.  Mothers, hide your daughter.  Fathers, lock up your sons.  Bodysnatcher is coming to town, and they will leave nothing behind.  Prepare for doomsday.  Prepare to find yourself closer to Hell.

FFO: the Acacia Strain, Immoralist, King Conquer

RATING: Five out of Five Venue Trashcans Getting Thrown at You