Pure and Simple
Glasgow metallers Co-Exist are a mixture of Carcass, Stampin' Ground and Raging Speedhorn. What is the outcome I hear you say? Fucking brutal is what it is.
The first track starts and you are dragged kicking and screaming into a pure destruction-fest, this is damn fast and what could make it a more metal album than the title 'Surgical Removal of the Teeth, Toenails and the Drilling of the Knee Caps'?
This album features two vocalists, one of whom is the drummer, Quzzy, you may ask how it is possible to play this kind of music and scream at the the same time. The other vocalist is Paul Catten; also know as "The Cat". Bother deliver brutal vocals, although one of them has more death metal tones, while the other leans towards thrash.
Most of the tracks on this album are 1 minute long, with the exception of the few, so there is no time for bullshitting with this band; they write short, simple songs and believe me, there is nothing wrong with that.
While this album will please anyone who is into their Hardcore/Grind, there is nothing new on this album at all; everything here has already been done by bands like Napalm Death.
The production on this album is somewhat weak, the drums remain weak throughout the entire album and the vocals remain the loudest, sometimes drowning out the other instruments. The bass does not stand out at all, and the guitars are over-distorted and again, sometimes hard to hear. Although the vocals I must say, suit this album perfectly (no, I'm not saying they're weak). They are raw and loud, how metal should be!
The stand-out tracks on this album have to be 'Urge to Mutilate' which is the opening track and is an offering of brutal metal, whereas 'I Am the Leper' is a more melodic song, yet remaining heavy.
Overall, this album offers eighteen tracks of furious, grinding metal highlights, and although it may not be original, it will certainly please the metallers. Definitely one to check out if you are a fan of Grindcore or Hardcore.