Album Review: Troglodyte - The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: Welcome to the Food Chain
Reviewed by Patrick O'Reilly
Caveman Slam, Caveman Death Metal and Caveman riffs are phrases that you hear quite often these days in relation to Death Metal. Often used as derogatory terms, but to some these descriptions are badges of honour and make an album worth listening to.
Troglodyte not only pride themselves on being purveyors of Caveman Death Metal but also base their music and imagery on the phenomena of Bigfoot and other distant relations of the caveman (warning: this may not be historically accurate!)
This, their fourth album, sees a tribe of cavemen assembled including bassist Mike Flores of Origin with his first studio recording for the band having played live with them previously. Brent Purgason aka Pustulus Maximus of Gwar and Ross Sewage of Icons Exhumed and Impaled also guest on the album.
The songs are brutal and simple and will satisfy fans of the brutal death metal genre no end. The guitars crunch and production is clear for all instruments. My favourite track is ‘Found Guilty in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Shooting a Man in a Bigfoot Costume’ which opens with staccato stop/start riffing and pig squeals and is a pummelling assault on the senses.
Track 5 ‘Dyatlov’ opens with a slower, heavier section that brings to mind some of Cannibal Corpse’s slower moments before settling into a punishing groove and brings a change of pace and tone that is much needed.
Overall the album does drag a little but that is the nature of this kind of music. Fans will lap it up though and I can imagine the pits that this band whips up would be epic in scope and quite probably leave you feeling like you have been stomped on by Bigfoot himself!
I would recommend this album in particular for fans of – Bigfoot, The Abominable Snowman, Sasquatch, Yetis, and Wendigo
