Bay Area Bad Boys
Formed in 2006 in California, Laceration has weathered numerous breakups and reunions. Their earlier years were marked by the release of EPs, demos and a split. However, following their recent revival, Laceration has solidified its position in the music scene.
A 2020 demo was soon followed by their first full-length record, Demise. Looking to continue the revival, Laceration’s newest release, I Erode, hit the shelves in July 2024.
After a dull 60-second introduction to the album, the Bay Area boys turn up the thrash for the entirety of I Erode. Brace yourself for a violent compilation of finger-cutting riffs and callus-causing drumming.
Track two, “Excised,” is an unapologetic and hard-hitting onslaught of death metal riffs and that ever-so-familiar relentless drumming. While in and out of melodic solos, the guitars are complimented well by the pounding across Aerin Johnson’s kit. Shaking the listener to their core, this track is a brutal introduction to the album that promises to leave a lasting impression on listeners.
Rolling into “Sadistic Enthrallment,” listeners are presented with an intense, technical track that evokes thrills and chills throughout. The fast-paced, complex guitar riffs will hold one close and refuse to let go.
A standout of the album has to be “Vile Incarnate.” It is a fiercely violent and powerful number that opens with classic thrash metal guitar. Johnson tests the strength of his drum skins throughout the track while Donnie Small matches his intensity on the strings.
Another vicious onslaught worth a mention is “Cancerality.” Blast beats and gut-wrenching guitar work make up for a high-energy track.
Over the course of I Erode, it is noticeable that most songs are divided into two halves. The first half is complete destruction, consisting of guitar solos, while the second half moves to a heavier riff-based sound. The track “Impaling Sorrow” demonstrates this well.
When analysing the band, it is clear each member has an important part to play. Donnie Small, the lead guitarist, dances up and down the fretboard and rips up the strings across the entire album, contributing significantly to the sound. Alongside Luke Cazares, who confidently churns up the death metal sound. The two musicians flourish in harmony, both elegantly and destructively.
Supported by bassist Eli Small, the dark and dirty basslines provide a pathway in which each member follows throughout the duration. Not to mention, Cazares is a top-tier death metal vocalist. Rough and ragged, he annihilates the English language whenever given the opportunity.
Saving the best until last, we have Aerin Johnson. The powerhouse drummer arrives on each track and fearlessly matches the chaos thrown at him by the guitars. Using the drumsticks as an extension of his own arms, he effortlessly blasts beats his way through verses and navigates technical fills around the kit as if it were child’s play.
Mixed by Autopsy’s Greg Wilkinson, I Erode has an adrenaline-soaked sound built to hype up the listeners. Experimenting with extreme metal, the record has strong hints of a vintage metal sound while simultaneously fitting in place in 2024. Through correct tone choices and top-tier production, Laceration have locked in a heavily vicious sound.
In addition, thanks to the addition of Matt Harvey’s recording skills, the album helps the guitars have a K-9 sharp edge alongside a rhythm section moving at a speed we cannot comprehend.
The release of I Erode presents an upbeat and energised sound that Laceration has given fans upon each release.
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