Musicians are masochistic creatures. Never truly happy unless their schedules are recklessly overstuffed with writing, studio work, live shows and promotion, guest appearances and side-projects are just two more ways to ensure life outside of music consists of nothing but eating, sleeping, the occasional TV show and visits to the pub.

One such madman is part-time meme generator and Ashen Crown vocalist Kieran Scott, who along with Mick Carey of Irish act Zealot Cult, Lee Cummings of Severe Lacerations, and Andy Whale, former drummer of Memoriam and the legendary Bolt Thrower, has created death metal act DeathCollector.

Anyone already familiar with those acts (and if you’re not then you really should be) will know precisely what to expect from Times Up, and this independently released three track explosion of noise does not disappoint. Kicking off with ‘DeathCollector’ the carnage begins with a methodically paced malevolent crawl before kicking things up a notch or ten as the song erupts into a flurry of flailing riffs, double kicks and blastbeats. ‘Internal Expansion’ quickly stamps its authority with rapid fire brutality, the rhythm section of Whale and Cummings bolstered by a superbly agile guitar solo courtesy of Carey before ‘Terrorizer’ closes the EP with another rip-roaring surge of raw energy.

 

With some completely unsurprising nods to Bolt Thrower, and the occasional hint of Morbid Angel, Times Up may be game over before you know it but is still absolutely worthy of your attention. Grinding riffs, punishing drums and vocals directly from Satan’s sphincter, this is underground death metal at its nastiest.

Buy the EP here: https://linktr.ee/deathcollector

8 /10

GARY ALCOCK