ASIAN DEATH The underground is getting professional these days. Just look at this self-released CD; full colored cover and a pro-pressed CD in slim case makes all the worthless CDR bands (not mentioning so-so music) cower in despair. Although I don’t have any idea if what is the relevance of the cover itself; 2 worms or slugs that you always see being eaten alive in Fear Factor is what graces the cover of this Italian band’s truly independent release (you can also see this slugs in their website). The mini-album had this title translated like “No Howl in the Shade” and the cover was 2 slimy slugs crawling in a pink table or pink background? Yeah I’ve said it. It’s pink (or light pink in that matter) and I have no idea why is the entire packaging is in pink too. Let us get down to Lacerater’s music. Old School Death Metal with an excellent production. Bio claimed that the band had their origins in Death Metal, Hardcore and Grind. This one is a bit loose, “controlled”, and mostly stays within traditional Death Metal. They are a bit chaotic and not as tight as “Modern Hardocre/Death Metal bands that I don’t like. Vocals were natural and that’s another one good point too because one thing I never like about “Death Metal” nowadays is the multi-tracking of 3-4 growls that sounds so big and fake or otherwise you will have this really useless “pig vocals” which is very common nowadays. It’s good that I’ve never heard that in here. Nothing but traditional Benton fame growling-with-high-screams and “Nato Morto” is the evidence of it all. The production is top notch but at least, not overdone. Guitars still have that “evil” atmosphere in them and don’t sound plastic. “W.H. 22” is a track that showcases the bands potential to make something “evil sounding Death Metal” on it’s next release. Don’t fell into the trap of literally worthless Porno Death Metal with pig vocals. These Italian motherfuckers is sure to fuck you up by keeping the tradition alive! All trendy porno death gooks can simply jump into the pig bandwagon and forget this band. The last track “Sangue” and “Nato Morto” were both fucking catchy not meant for trendy cum gurgling “death metallers” in loose buggy pants – mostly Asian midgets. Lacerater is the real deal. The only negative point of this MCD is that it is so short. So short that it only reaches 13:21 minutes for four songs!! I suggest that the band should make longer songs since they got the potential already. “WH 22” is my favorite track in this MCD but it is simply too short if you ask me! I might even forget this track after the spin. Good work but for four songs this might only come as a teaser. Not to mention that the first track “O.S.S.A.” doesn’t do it for me, so we only got 3 great tracks of Traditional Death Metal! You may download these tracks direct from the band’s website or you may try to score this disc to support the band. By Windigo MARK: 7/10