Review: Lacabra “Lacabra” [M-Theory Audio]

Seattle, Washington, USA’s Lacabra – forged upon the ruins Locisteller and featuring a pack of seasoned artists – began their journey dead set upon making a name for themselves. And they most certainly have… Now, cited as one of the must-see Extreme Metal bands of the Pacific Northwest, Lacabra is locked and loaded; fully prepared to unleash their sonic artillery; shells blasting through the macrocosm of the industry, discharged with carnage-inducing lethality from the Lacabra panzer. Influences? Everything from a little Melo-Death to some Thrash, a hefty dose of DM and a touch of old-school Heavy Metal swagger. Lacabra’s self-titled sophmore LP is scheduled for a June 6 release via M-Theory Audio.

This thing is epic… A lot of times, a band, especially one that’s fresh on the scene, will lose itself in trying to incorporate every great idea they can think of into their first couple of albums; resulting in a convoluted mess of recording. Lacabra has done this, but in a good way. There’s so much to take in during every album cut, yet these great ideas are wisely interjected in segments, so as not to overwhelm the listener. The opening track, “Blood of the Goat 1876” makes its impression on several fronts: melody, riff & rhythm, jaw-dropping parts here and fundamental headbanging parts there. Enthralling leads converge into gravitational progressions, and its the Melo-Death elements that reign. The same can be said about the following track, “Fallacy”, but with ensnaring choruses does this one captivate along with all those soaring solos and hearty riffs – like “Slaughter of the Soul” era At the Gates and Nervosa hooking up while Crypta and Amon Amarth watch… Turned on? Good…

This stuff is meant for the live experience: beer/sweat-soaked and pummeling your way through the masses; plowing through teenagers who have no business in the pit without a fuck to give… Taking a step back into the darkness now, as the temped “Nothing” unfolds to shadowy, almost blackened parts before more catchy choruses ensue. Irresistible! Undeniable like weed and pizza… Oh yeah, packing it in with gluttonous debauchery now. Full, but it just tastes too good to stop… Not a second’s worth of runtime wasted on pretentious intros or boring interludes, balls-to-the-wall, foot planted on the accelerator, groovy and dense as fuck the whole way through. “Lacabra” closes with the intense intricacy of “Fractured” following the triumphant Heavy Metal-inspired “The Devil’s Mechanic”. Shifting not the gears and just continuing with the onslaught are Lacabra. A forging together of everything this band has done well up until this point.

Lacabra has made a statement! A proclamation of insidious domination over the US Extreme Metal scene. This shit will catch on like fire upon tissue, and that’s a guarantee. It goes down smooth and warms the gut – a comfortable yet exciting sort of intoxication comparable to knocking back a few shots of Jack Daniel’s in rapid succession. Lance Neatherlin (Lead Vocals), Eric Snyder (Guitar/Vocals), Eric Weber (Bass), Michael Anthony (Guitar), and Richie Sather (Drums) – a full lineup of savvy musicians who not only appreciate the old-school, but also do they project a most enthralling vision for Extreme Metal. Step aside, kids, and let the grown men show you how it’s done! Definitely worthy of multiple listens is Lacabra. Timeless? A masterpiece? Not quite yet, but almost. Lacabra will arrive at that point soon enough. So, prepare for another one of this year’s finest albums.

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