CD Review: Leng Tch'e - Marasmus
Posted by Cosmo Lee on March 19th, 2007
The first two Leng Tch'e albums are absolute must-haves for any fan of grindcore. Death by a Thousand Cuts and ManMadePredator were just plain crazy, spraying blastbeats, thrash grooves, death growls, high screams, and movie samples around like a meth head with a machine gun. 2005's The Process of Elimination had more polished production, but was still full of the Belgian band's trademark humor, poking fun at scenesters and red state America.
Thus, Marasmus is a disappointment. No lyrics came with the promo, but judging from the sound, the band has gotten much more serious. The grooves are measured and conservative, with none of the random whiplash tempo changes that used to smack listeners upside the head. The "grind" element is almost gone. Instead of balls-to-the-wall intensity, Leng Tch'e seems to have become just another death metal band, trudging through songs with limp half-speed parts that tempt the "-core" tag. Yes, there are blastbeats and death growls. No, they do not kick ass. Any of today's hungry deathcore upstarts could crush this record. This band sounds tired.
The sterile, over-compressed production is much to blame. Everything is clean, clear, and flat as a pancake. This Andy Sneap-style production trend has to stop. It works for Killswitch Engage, but a band like Leng Tch'e needs savage, dynamic production. Instead, the guitars are neatly tucked into the mix, the drums sound like plastic thuds, and the breakdowns don't breathe. This is a shame, as there are creative riffs here, especially near the end. But good riffs aren't good enough for grindcore. It requires sound that runs you over like a truck. This record is like an American sedan - safe, stodgy, and lifeless.
5/10
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Although I greatly agree with a lot of your reviews, I have to disagree with you in your rating on this one. A 5, come on. For one you have to give it to Sven de Caluwe. Not only did he do drums for this album…but just a week ago he released one of the years finest releases…Aborted "Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture" but he also did a Whorecore release.
They all are busy people and haven't abandoned any particular thing at all. What they have done is add grove and bass drops. Nothing wrong with that. The grind is definitely there. If anything hats off to the hard working guys and especially Sven for being able to put out two seriously kick ass releases within' a week of each other.
I would give the release no less then a 7.
I'm a fan of anything Sven does, and I like all three of his projects. The band's politics are very much in line with mine. I wish I could give this album a better rating. But despite my liking them as general human beings, I stand by my review. This album pales in comparison to what Leng Tch'e can do. There's no blood, no insanity. Put on the first album and then this one, and you'll hear the difference.
I agree, this was a pretty huge letdown for me too. So was the new Aborted record as well. They've been listening too much of metalcore and have polished all the edges for wider audiences, not for like radio rock, but for people who don't care/like death metal or grind.
This album doesn't have standout tracks, no blasting, and way too many long and boring mid tempo songs. Also the split they did with Warsaw was amazingy boring, and it seems that those tracks were leftouts from Marasmus sessions. This album is great workout music but that's it.
I'd give Marasus 5 or 6 out of 10.
check Leng Tch'e out @ Tears of Metal (Stabroek - Antwerp)
also there, cypher, unleash the fury, after all, thurisaz and oceans of sadness
entrance only 8 / 10euro's
http://www.iduna.be
Never heard of this band before, Just bought the cd because I thought the cover art was sick (turned out much sicker.) And from what I can tell these motherfuckers destroy in terms of whiplashing grind. but I sense they're probably way more impressive on their infamous early records so I'll have to check those out. So far it's pretty basic, but it rips so I'll have to just let it grow on me. The title track is killer and Obsession defined is just devestating.