R.I.P. - As Good As Dead
Germany
Brutal Cave Productions
"As Good As Dead" is the debut EP from these German death metallers, which was released by Brutal Cave Productions.
A quarter of the band's line-up consists of members from the thrash metal band Destroyer, which haven't really put out anything since 2013. R.I.P. definitely have their fair share of thrashing chops, with a sound inclined towards straight-forward death metal charged with foot-tapping grooves and mid-tempo battery. There's somewhat of a "fun" element in their sound, although they still manage to keep it heavy and brutal, which sits well with the overall aesthetics. The bass is always audible in the mix, which gives it a nice, chunky feel. Vocals are well performed and brings to mind John Tardy of Obituary. Riffs aren't particularly technical, although there's some cool solos scattered throughout, including a plethora of killer riffs that will kick you on the ass.
"As Good As Dead" isn't a terribly innovative release, as we've heard similar sounding stuff about a dozen times before, although it's definitely good for what it is, even though it's quite a short EP. The release is augmented with an excellent mix and production, which really brings out the power in the overall performance. These four songs get better with each listen, and is a solid representation of what we can expect from the band in the future. Musically, their sound owes a lot to bands like Autopsy and Obituary, but executed with a revitalized energy. (HT)