Described by the artist – Dethwish (known to the government and his family as Shawn Fortier) as an “end of summer banger about being sad all summer”, Rot Away is a charming hodge-podge of styles.
It’s a high-energy but at the same time sombre piece that draws inspiration from electronic dance sub-genres like drum n bass, jungle, rave and breakbeat as well as a quite obvious nu-metal undertone. There is also the influence of more modern, heavier musicians here – we detect whiffs of abrasive metal acts like Code Orange and Poppy.
It is executed with expertise, conviction and an individuality that allows Dethwish to put his own special stamp on his version of these well-established sounds.
The second song – Grow – keeps the vibe going and feels like Deftones near the beginning, with the drums reminding us of Australian electronic rock band Pendulum. Quickly, the nu-metal influence becomes even more pronounced, and we’re reminded of Linkin Park at its best during the Hybrid Theory era.
The vocals chop and change between a guttural growl and rapid-fire raps, for the most part. But it’s when they ease up a bit and dial down the harshness that they are most accessible and actually quite sweet-sounding. The balance and combination are quite charming and rather bold.
The song gets even heavier towards its end with what sounds like detuned guitars and a double bass drum contributing massively to the overall cacophony.
The last track is entitled Glue and is pure DNB/rock fusion. It sounds like how you imagine The Prodigy might have sounded had they collaborated with prime Marilyn Manson. It’s spooky, atmospheric, theatrical and dramatic and is absolutely full of character and attitude.
The vinyl scratching is very early Slipknot and sticks out as part of the song that could be a bit of an acquired taste, as well as the Fred Durst-esque vocals on this one.
Fans of any of the other artists mentioned here should revel in this unexpected resurgence of a genre that many probably would’ve thought was largely committed to the annals of time.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
