Ground Of Ruin (ROI) | ‘Cloaked In Doctrine’

I couldn’t believe the sound of this the first time it hit the deth dekks. Looking back over ancient reviews of the Carlow lot’s previous two demos (to whit: here), it seems as though a different group of guys has donned the guitars, grabbed the sticks, and decided to pump out riotous riffing like their lives depend on it. Happily, the ugly mugs in those band snaps confirm that not only is this the same band, but it’s the same band back with a vengeance. They may not have always got it right before - but this time they have. And how.

Their big problem before was production. The Trackmix Effect has thoroughly sorted that one out though, and gives further proof that a bad metal recording has yet to come out its door. It sounds fantastic, thick and just like it should without pandering in any way to modern trickery. Ground Of Ruin have matured to the point where they wouldnt need it though; this is fucking old school, and every inch of it is steeped in the good old sounds of Swedish death metal. It’s crisp, tight and dark, in a way that this band have never even hinted that they were capable of before.

I love it. Of the four tracks on here, only ‘Burning The Olive Branch’ even remotely drags, and it’s already above average anyway. The rest though is totally grade A gear that would have been commendable had it come from Gothenburg circa 1995. Just check out ‘Beneath Contempt’ for a masterstroke of vital, effective, direct and absolutely satisfying chunk of melodic death metal with a the kind of blackened air that gave Dissection their edge.

The thick, crunching guitar on here is a joy, which is even better given that it’s held to the kick drums with something akin to a tube of Locktight. The vocals are menacing in a nasty, cold way, the snare drum is JUST so, and without even going to clean guitars they’ve managed to imbue their metal with the one thing demo bands famously can’t achieve - dynamic. Want to know how it’s done? Listen to the title track and hear how two guitars can crank it like a motorbike when it’s time for the key riff.

Perhaps all this has been won from the consistency of their live shows, the greater professionalism gained from big name supports. But this cd has the all important, indefinable x-factor as well. It sounds like a band totally immersed in what they’re doing, and in love with the style of vintage melodeath that they’ve grown up with. Only now they’re grown up enough themselves to do it right.

This would get recommended no matter what quarter it came from, but Ground Of Ruin have secured several important achievements with it. They’ve gotten immeasurably better as a unit, which is a great thing for any band. Plus they’ve also just released a demo that with luck will be fondly remembered for years to come - and there’s few more impressive things in the underground. Totally fantastic.

- Earl Grey ::: 20/01/09