Caustic Wound – Grinding Mechanism of Torment (Review)

This is the second album by US deathgrinders Caustic Wound.

Caustic Wound contain current/ex-members of Corpus Offal, Magrudergrind, Mortiferum, and Cerebral Rot,, and Grinding Mechanism of Torment is a 28-minute platter of old-school ferocity. Providing us with largely short bursts of death metal-infused grindcore, this is for fans of bands such as Brutal Truth, Carcass, Exhumed, Napalm Death, Repulsion, and Terrorizer.

Grinding Mechanism of Torment is an album that’s brutal and succinct, rarely straying beyond the borders of one or two minute explosions of gruesome fury. Caustic Wound’s formidable blend of merciless death metal and raging grindcore is immense and extremely satisfying.

The songs are well-written, with a variety in pace and dynamics that showcases the range of what deathgrind is capable of when done to a high standard, as it is here. There’s the requisite speed and blasting that you’d expect, but also steamroller groove, slower chunks of apocalyptic heaviness, and a selection of crushing riffs. Screaming solos and guttural growls are everywhere, shredding skin and devouring flesh, bolstered by the occasional piercing scream.

It all makes for a compelling reason to endure the band’s assault. They may beat, batter, and punish, but it’s hard not to love it. Deathgrind is immense fun in the right hands, and Caustic Wound know what they’re doing.

Grinding Mechanisms of Torment is such an old-school record in shape, form, feel, an execution, that it just feels like it should have come out on Earache Records in the 90s. It’s enjoyable and well worth the time getting destroyed by.

Highly recommended for grindheads everywhere.