Primal Code are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Featuring a current/ex-member of Anatomy of Habit, Indian, Lord Mantis, and Wolves in the Throne Room, Primal Code play old-school death metal, and on Opaque Fixation they bring us 39 minutes of crushing riffery.
Primal Code’s style favours a heavy interpretation of death metal’s classic weight, while combining this with elements of equally classic hardcore and sludge. For a rough idea of what Opaque Fixation has to offer, put yourself in mind of a mix of bands such as Bolt Thrower, Obituary, Merauder, Pro-Pain, High on Fire, and Crowbar. All of these references are churned together in a thick pot, giving rise to a monstrous creation of 90s-influenced nastiness.
The album is a meaty hit of mid-paced heaviness, rumbling chugs, and jagged riffs. Faster and slower parts are included, and understated melody is deployed at key points, but ultimately this is an album that’s heavy, rhythmic, and efficient in its killings.
The riffs are everywhere, the vocals are dark, nasty, and sludgy, and the recording crisp and crunchy. It’s a no-frills feast of death metal, with sludge and hardcore flavouring, and it goes down quite nicely.
Recommended listening for fans of the abovementioned bands.
Wonderbox Metal 