Puresonic Outcasts - Desecration

Northern Ireland's Puresonic Outcasts return with a vengeful new single, ahead of an upcoming six-song EP. 2020's 'Reflections On This Present Condition' introduced the quartet to the world, before 'Demonised Masses' and 'Chasing Shadows' came out in the second half of that year. These singles saw PSO step the heaviness up a notch with thrashy chugging, clearly evolving from the stoner-punk style of their first EP. 'Desecration' is another step in this direction, with their heaviest material to date... You can just tell that this new release will be an absolute corker.

A short burst of feedback gives way to a vicious guitar riff, setting the scene as the Outcasts jam out over it. It threatens to snap your head clean from its neck as you listen along. As they drop into a simpler, punk-infused section that has flavourings of Slayer around the late '80s, Martin's snarling vocals sound more savage and guttural than they ever have done, matching the heavy tone perfectly. 

PSO know how to create an atmosphere. Any listen to their older material would tell you that. Yet before, they'd lull you into a trance with trippy, fuzzed-out vibes - especially over their first EP - but there's barely a hint of that in 'Desecration'. This sees a new, updated PSO, at their most aggressive. The atmosphere here is much more hostile and unforgiving than what longtime listeners may be used to - but it's still absolutely killer, and arguably really brings out the PSO identity at its best. I remember my first listen to 'Demonised Masses' and being wowed at the nods to thrash that weren't really as noticeable or direct on the first EP. This is another leap down that path.

The biggest reference to PSO's earlier days seems to be around three-quarters of the way through, as they unleash a low and slow passage that would make even the best doom bands' eyes water. Still, for this style, it's much heavier than their older material and doesn't at all sound out of place on 'Desecration'. With a real sense of evil that complements the faster riffs before it, the song is perfectly rounded off as they bring back the main riff for a final time to close.

I can see this being the first song from the upcoming release, although I haven't seen its tracklisting yet. The song has the feel of a tone-setter - the first lyric is 'welcome to the city' - and the song structure is pretty direct. Only a couple of riffs and a doom section are used here, but it's massively impactful. In any case, this has me very excited to hear the rest of it.

Top, top work from Puresonic Outcasts - make sure to give this song a listen when it drops next week.

Many thanks to the guys for their longtime support of the blog and to Stevo for sending it over. What a treat.

8/10

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MN

Comments

  1. Unknown8 December 2021 at 18:52

    Big thanks from the PSO crew🤘🤘🤘🤘

    ReplyDelete

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