Covenance
Ravaging The Pristine

April 2006
Released: 2006, Galy Records
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Lord of the Wasteland

Former members of Dying Fetus and Misery Index have joined forces under the moniker of Covenance to unleash an eight-minute, three-song MCD entitled RAVAGING THE PRISTINE. With Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan handling the final master, the sound is thick on the bottom end and the instruments nicely spaced. The American death metal sounds of Misery Index is immediately evident but with a touch of Dying Fetus’ gurgling grind. The songs are all around the two-and-a-half minute mark and are fast, to-the-point and without a lot of frills. The solos on “Narcotic” and “Assimilate” break up some of the monotony but for the most part, there is little difference from track-to-track musically or vocally. If you want fast, brutal and in-your-face, then RAVAGING THE PRISTINE is for you but don’t expect any stretch beyond those boundaries.



**Since the recording of RAVAGING THE PRISTINE, ex-Cryptopsy growler Martin Lacroix has replaced Vince Matthews on vocals and with a full-length CD scheduled for release later in 2006, it will be interesting to hear the differences.



KILLER KUTS: “Narcotic,” “Assimilate”