Album Review: Gutless - High Impact Violence
Reviewed by Sam Jones
I’ve had my eyes on Gutless, the Australian death metal act, for some time now and have been waiting for the moment they finally release a full length. Now that moment has come, with High Impact Violence set to release November 22nd, signed on to Me Saco Un Ojo Records for its Vinyl and Digital releases, and Dark Descent Records for the physical CD version. Formed in 2018 out of Melbourne, Australia, Gutless have gradually built themselves a fanbase, starting with their first Demo, Mass Extinction, in 2018, but their arguable biggest release has been their 2020 Split alongside Mortal Wound (who’ve also released their first full length record earlier this year). Though a Live Album followed suit the next year, Gutless went quiet on releases prior to this album announcement. Finally seeking to flex themselves, Gutless are ready to show legions of fans what they’re made of. This was a record by a band I was deeply anticipating.
A proud old school death metal influence permeates the record to its core; the band make it glaringly apparent within the opening seconds of High Impact Violence. But much like the record’s namesake the band aren’t too preoccupied with inserting anything overtly superfluous or highbrow; they know what they are, their fans know what they are and therefore what you get on album is what they’re best at. Meaty riffs, visceral vocal volleys and an atmosphere that could take your head clean off, this is the aesthetic Gutless utilise and though their songwriting may not change all too much as their record only progresses from track to track, you’ll be content with that owing to how straightforward and honest the band are with their metal. There’s a particularly strong Cannibal Corpse vibe flowing throughout this record, specifically the Chris Barnes era, as the band proudly beat you in the head not with fists but slabs of concrete. This is one mean and uncaring soundscape.
Half the reason this album seems to pound us at every turn came be boiled down to the bass, for the soundscape the band showcase is a sheer wall; the walls of the record in this case are sheer and insurmountable, you cannot scale nor escape this edifice. You can breathe and move about somewhat during the record’s runtime, at least as much movement is gifted to a victim upon a rack. The drums equally pound into us and help to reinforce the walls of the record. The soundscape is especially blunt. The near-absence of blast beats actually aids the band in this instance, for their inclusion would otherwise mar the rest of the drumming, inhibiting the cymbals or bass drums from possessing such a pronounced outline. By keeping the drumming relatively down to earth, it allows us to experience the full weight of the band’s performance, and the bass drums especially are a strong factor as to why Gutless feel so volatile.
The band know how to use tempo. Though their primary method of pace is to throw everything at us including the kitchen sink in a lightning fast, dense, fashion, they’re also capable of relaxing the tempo, at the least granting us opportunities to catch our breath. But we mustn’t confuse this for a calmer assault or an expanding variety in songwriting because I’d argue their onslaught becomes all the heavier because their pacing slows down here and there. But a slower, more precise impact wouldn’t mean so much were the guitar tone just a little less clenched; if the tone were any more tense, any more ready for a fight, you’d imagine the band shattering their bones owing to how clenched their sound is. But it also speaks volumes about the band’s ethos too; there is nothing on record other than the immediate songwriting and retro love of death metal that you’ll find herein. It’s as if you can imagine the band looking you up and down knowing full well this is what you’ve come for, and you know it. Should there be persons present who aren’t feeling High Impact Violence, then it’s like the band are asking: “Why else are you here then?”
You’ll find that High Impact Violence doesn’t stick around for all that long and it’s likely one of its key, underlying strengths too. Each track rolls into one then the next and the next because the residual power left over from the end of one track, the momentum yet lingering, doesn’t dissipate and thus when the next track begins its strength is already riding high. It means the record continuously reinvigorates itself because its energy doesn’t just stop when one track ends and, since each track is pretty concise and sticks around two or three minutes apiece, the limited time ensures the band can’t implement songwriting that could take away the blunt force impact their death metal attains with ease. Though some could say the songwriting variety isn’t present as found in other acts, I’d counter argue by saying the band write metal that’s short and to the point. It doesn’t meander needlessly. It does its job, gets in then gets out.
In conclusion, I’d deem Gutless’ first album a dear success as they easily have the next best release in their discography other than their Split with Mortal Wound. Gutless demonstrate there is, and always will be, audience and room for death metal that aspires to do nothing more than beat your head into cerebral pulp with a bat. It also demonstrates the exquisite breadth of extreme metal, for you can have bands that implement more nuanced ideas but then you have Gutless, who embody a proud caveman aesthetic. As we’ve covered, High Impact Violence does exactly what you read on the tin; it’s messy and bludgeoning and visceral and makes zero apologies for it. It may not be the most highbrow record towards the end of the year but I can foresee a great swathe of people falling in love with this record, with the hopes that more material like this will follow shortly. Gutless have been one of the underdogs of this new wave of cavernous, monstrous death metal and its great to see they finally have their time in the spotlight, as well as giving Australia another quality band. Bringing strength and a sledgehammer weight over and again, High Impact Violence never disguises itself than anything other than what it is: Raw, undiluted power.
