ROSE FUNERAL „“Crucify Kill Rot””

Music: Deathcore/melodic death metal
Country: U.S.A.
Web site: www.myspace.com/rosefuneral
Cool Songs: The Well, Sledge Hammer Face Lift, Dawning the Resurrection

ROSE FUNERAL borrows influences from the old and new death metal scene in native, Midwest, United States. The newer death metal influences come from their Michigan neighbors, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. TBDM’s influence is widespread in today’s scene, and is even more accessible considering the band’s close proximity to ROSE FUNERAL. “Crucify Kill Rot” includes the requisite Swedish, melodic death riffing, duel vocal attack, and tempo-halting breakdowns. On the old school tip, the lyrical matter is more aligned with gore grind and brutal death. Many of the rhythms also emulate the Florida death metal sound. Some riffs are low-end, slow grinders.

The title track opens the album. This track gave the impression of this album being another trendy “breakdown” melodic death/metalcore. While this is true in one sense, the manner in which ROSE FUNERAL pulls it off separates them from the rest of the pack. They ascertain a flow and impetus very few bands of this style can obtain, which is in part due to Ryan Gardner’s impressive drum skills. Gardner sets the pattern for most of the rhythms during these moments. The guitar and bass tightly follow his stick and kick drum rhythms with swift chugging riffs. In some places, the breakaway rhythms are utilized in the same fashion as Fear Factory. Other times, like the beginning of “State of Decay,” are reminiscent of MESHUGGAH’s complexly timed, chugging breakdowns. Even slower moments show the guitarist striking a couple notes then letting those notes echo, making for a hard, reverberating sound.

“Sledge Hammer Face Lift” is the group at its best. This track is a display of all the elements that make “Crucify Kill Rot” a deathcore standout. The title says it all, death metal with unmerciful brutality. The rhythm could be seen as a gradual climb down in tempo. It begins with fairly speedy death metal lick then transitions into a flowing, expertly-time chugging rhythm. Like a severely injured fighter, the music steps down even further into full-on breakdown for the chorus: “as you suffer, you bleed to death, your soul is fractured, face is mutilated.” Other highlights include the diabolical rhythm on “The Well” and the dark ambience of the instrumental tracks, “Intereo Diu” and “Dawning the Resurrection.”

ROSE FUNERAL is a refreshing act in today’s “core” scene. There is no bubblegum chewing, teenage laments on this album. ROSE FUNERAL seems less concerned with their hair and clothes than making a bruising, heavy album with a good deal of musical precison. If other bands could follow suit, maybe Hot Topic and Headbanger’s Ball would quit feeding us such bullshit!

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Crucify.Kill.Rot
2. God's Hideous Creation
3. Sledge Hammer Face Lift
4. The Well
5. Intereo Diu
6. Dawning the Resurrection
7. State of Decay
8. Eternal Regret
9. Under a Godless Sky
10. Buried Amongst the Flames
Total playing time 35:35

Line-up

Tony Younce – Guitars
Destin Armstrong – Vocals (formely Bass)
Drey Armstrong – Guitars
Ryan Gardner – Drums
Craig Binaut – Bass