Parasite Inc. – Time Tears Down
A fantastic display of forward-thinking melodic death without compromising just where the sound came from.
Let’s face it, there’s something about metal that just doesn’t work anymore. It used to be about how bands made you want to move your body. Head-banging, body slamming, hell, most bands would be happy to see you jumping up and down either in time with the music… or not. Nether-the-less, metal made people happy, and still does. Instead, there’s been a focus shift. Fans who listen to music want to see ‘the next big thing’ and usually you need to be a pioneer of a brand new style or sub-genre, or the fans are looking for a technically verbose band that doesn’t (dare I say it) “wank around”. It’s time to get back to the music, back to the joy without unintentionally searching for the negatives.
2013 has brought me a lot of joy, we’re only half-way through and yet bands are making head-way with their new releases. Take Parasite Inc. for example. The upcoming “Time Tears Down” showcases all of the positives of metal, managing to throw in their own modern melodic twist. The album’s lead single, “Pulse of the Dead” becomes an instant highlight as that quasi-chugga backed by the insatiable groove created by the bass and drum kit alike. The song simply wants to make you move your body, throw in a technically verbose solo and a couple of minimal flanger effects and it shows why this track was first to be released by the band. Thankfully, the groove simply doesn’t stop there. Tracks like “Scapegoat”, “Chaos Inside” and “Hatefilled” all bring back the groove. It’s great to see an act so young building off the foundations of bands like Kreator have played down. Sure, it’s definitely a lot more melodic and doesn’t really hint at innovating anything new but still manages to provide a pleasurable and consistently great listening experience. In short, Parasite Inc. is everything it needs to be with their debut. It’s heavy, brings back a sensible groove and doesn’t try to blow anyone out of the water with technical dexterity. ‘Time Tears Down’ is about as straight-forward as it needs to be, the band don’t waste time with clean chorus lines and soaring falsettos opting for a death growl that dominates the record.
Alternatively, the lack of clean vocals may in some places limit the amount of diversity to be heard on the record but it’s not like Parasite Inc. were looking for that type of sound. Largely, it doesn’t affect the album’s mood or quality adding to ‘Time Tears Down’s’ consistency between tracks. As a whole, the album is full of highlights. Usually, releases would have a couple of tracks peppered over the course of the release that would be considered stand-outs with the remaining succinctly filling in the gaps. Here there is absolutely no need for fillers, Time Tears Down’s tracks stand on their own accord and compliment each other when played back to back. Parasite Inc. have blended two worlds together to create an album that doesn’t do anything the listener isn’t expecting, re-invent the proverbial wheel or innovate any change in the metal scene. Instead, this band has successfully crafted one of the years most consistently great releases by focusing on the simple things and adding their own musical flair.
4.2/5
Track List:
1. Fire the Machines
2. Back For War
3. Time Tears Down
4. Chaos Inside
5. Function or Perish
6. Armageddon 16 To 9
7. Pulse of the Dead
8. Scapegoat
9. In the Dark
10. Unmeant Outcasts
11. Hatefilled
12. The End of Illusion
13. Dead Life (bonus track)
The Sonic Sensory 
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