Reviewed - 06/15/05

Weakening The Structure
[This Dark Reign]

It looks like Dying Fetus, and sounds like Dying Fetus, but it doesn't quite taste like Dying Fetus... so what is it?

The band in question is Recourse, and the album is "Weakening the Structure," scheduled to be released in July by This Dark Reign Recordings. And right from the moment I set my eyes on the packaging, I knew that Recourse were going to be at least partially Dying Fetus influenced. Everything about the album cover, the band and title logo, and even the layout screams Dying Fetus. And the same can be said about the sound. So in a sense, the only review "Weakening the Structure" needs is to mention that Recourse sound like a watered-down Dying Fetus.

Normally, I would look poorly upon such blatant imitation. But despite a more than obvious similarity in sound, "Weakening the Structure" has just enough going on that is different to justify its musical merit. First, the aforementioned obvious: Recourse sound like Dying Fetus. The guitar tone is the same. The band's melding of death metal and hardcore is similar to what Dying Fetus crafted years ago. "Weakening the Structure" consists of rhythmically-oriented extreme metal, though not to the atonal extent as, say, "Destroy the Opposition." There are plenty of instances of sheer metal brutality, and a fair degree of compositional technicality (not to mention instrumental virtuosity). But at the same time, the music of Recourse is fraught with thick meaty grooves or catchy head-banging rhythms, enough to make this an album equally appealing to fans of both death and core.

Perhaps this similarity should come as no surprise, as Dying Fetus' own John Gallagher produced "Weakening the Structure." The man also makes a guest appearance on "Scorched Earth." It's nice to see an established member of another metal band helping bring an otherwise unknown band such as this to the forefront of the underground consciousness. But unless Gallagher wants another clone of Dying Fetus, he should definitely encourage Recourse to find their own sound.

Now, here is what is different: vocalist Troy Norwood channels as much Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) as Jason Netherton (or Gallagher, for that matter). He does not quite growl in the death metal sense of the word, nor does he do much hard core shouting. His vocal style is definitely extreme, but surprisingly unique. All Norwood needs is slightly better production (his vocals are not always clear, or close enough to the front of the mix), and perhaps some lyrical practice, and he could be the perfect voice for such brutal deathcore. There is also more of a thrash vibe here than in the music of Dying Fetus, not to mention somewhat more core to the sound. Some songs stand out from the others, though attention is required to differentiate between this album's ten tracks (and they are short, too, with the entire album clocking in at just under 35 minutes).

"Too hardcore to be death metal, and too death metal to be hardcore!" is how Norwood describes Recourse.

Does it work? Almost. Recourse is still far more of a Dying Fetus clone than an extreme metal band ready to stand on their own feet. But they manage to push all the same buttons Dying Fetus does, and in ways that are occasionally unique. Perhaps future releases will display an increased development of unique songwriting, and prove Recourse to be a band worthy of at least as much respect as Dying Fetus. As it is now, however, "Weakening the Structure" is a fairly good Dying Fetus clone album... and that is both good and bad, I suppose.