Effluvia

Grindcore's BEST KEPT SECRET - 95%
detonator organ, December 28th, 2011

There are bands that go all technical, pretentious, wanky, and just flat out diverse...just for the sake of saying "hey we're diverse." Then there are bands who just say fuck it and grind you to a pulp not giving a shit about trendy technical bullshit or being pretentious. Effluvia is one of those bands. That's not to say there's no talent. Effluvia are VERY capable behind their instruments, but they don't try to act all holier than thou about it. They just want to write a song or two, have fun, and give the fans an album that's memorable, and believe me memorable is definately an understatement when talking about their debut full-length Cadaverous Compost.

Apparently, this is a band that's been around the death metal/grindcore scene for many years, but for some reason or another (be it lineup changes or whatever) they didn't put out anything untill 2004; granted there's probably a few unofficial demos circulating out there. but the headline holds true. Effluvia is grindcore's best kept secret out of Washington State.

To sum of Cadaverous Compost is difficult because there's so much going on. I'll try and give my best example. Take Napalm Death's "From Enslavement to Obliteration" throw Incantation's "Onward to Golgotha" add a dash of S.O.B., Carcass, Brutal Truth, Mortician, and Terrorizer's World Downfall in the blender, add fecal sprinkles for that extra kick, set to puree, and bingo....Cadaverous Compost. The album has the grind of Napalm and Terrorizer with the foreboding darkness of Incantation, with a little tongue and cheek humor added (examples would be the songs Knee Deep in Feces and W.Y.S.)

Gutiars have a thickness to them that really bring the atmosphere along with very speedy proficient drumming very reminiscent of Flo Mounier with a Mick Harris and Pete Sandoval feel. I also dig the lead guitar sounds which have a Kerry King, Rick Rozz, and old Possessed sound. Bass is distored and a little buried but it fits in the context of the album. Vocals are mainly low growls, but there is the occasional scream.....and boy does that fucker scream for a looooooooong time, that's breath control.

the album opens with a windy sound that sets up the dark sound perfectly, like it's opening the gates of Hell and telling you to get ready for some punishment, and after about 30 seconds D.O.T. kicks in and does just that, punish the fuck out of you with helicopter sounding kick drums and blast beats that leave you in a pulp.....and we're only on the first song.

My stand-out favorites would have to be Depression since I heard that on a YouTube compilation, along with Meat Tenderizer with a sweet intro from the movie Bad Taste with some of the best flowing thrashy grinding death guitars, drums, and vocals, it makes me want to feast on meat after listening. Delta Trauma really shows off the bands proficiency on their instruments while still keeping a good song structure and knowing when enough technicality is enough. And of course Slaughtered Remains with the Carcass-like dual vocal attack and the best divebomb leads I've heard in ages. Honorable mention to the song You for being what I would call the US answer to Napalm's "You Suffer" with an equally epic feel...blink and it's done.

World Termination concludes the album with perfectly paced riffs and drumming with a heavy as fuck middle section, only to put the final needle in your eardrums with dueling lead guitars. Just when you got the shit kicked out of you from the previous tracks, World Termination is there to finish vaporizing your corpse.

Keep in mind this band is only a THREE PIECE, so I can easily call this band a POWER TRIO who can pull off this montrous sound live. There are YouTube videos of them doing just that.

Newer bands should take note of how the older bands do it. They don't have to be fast for the sake of being fast. Effluvia keeps it well balanced with memorable whirlwind riffs and songs that keep your head moving up and down. It clocks around just over 23 minutes, but it leaves you begging for more once it's over. This band has a future and is one to keep an eye on. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! - Detonator Organ