“Fine Tuned Disasters” is another split CD from India’s very own Demonstealer Records, this time showcasing their more thrash and melodic death metal bands.

First off is Bhayanak Maut's Malignant EP. Kicking off with “Boiled. Unwound. Filatured.” which sounds like a cross between Pantera, Amon Amarth and Bullet For My Valentine but with some sludge/stoner metal thrown in as well. The four piece use lots of frantic guitar work, giving them a very 3D sound that engulfs you as you listen. “PICA” has a very God Dethroned vibe to it, with added gang vocals giving it a much more modern sound whilst both “Phlegm Blot Technik” and closing number “Elcit Set Nois Rot” again keep up the more modern metal sound, with some traces of hardcore present in “Elcit Set Nois Rot”. 

Skincold, who feature next, are more like a combination of Nile’s instrumental interludes, Shadows Fall’s technical proficiency, Adema and old Killswitch Engage. “Low Down” has melodies, breakdowns, riffs aplenty and split vocals that could make Kerry King cry. “Braindead” starts very melodically, with an ambient aurora to it and then the Deftones-esque vocals kick in over some raw Metallica style guitar work. Skincold are purveyors of a hybrid of thrash and hard alternative, and this creates something very interesting indeed 

“Ninety Seconds Is One Minute” by the third featured band, Scribe, is like a bullet to the head. You don’t hear it coming then it tears right through. They sound rather like Slipknot but with added blunt force trauma, a bludgeoning metal machine if you will. The five piece have secured a unique yet experimental sound, combing elements of the Iowa groove machine with Lamb Of God, Sick Of It All and Fear Factory. “Buddy” and “Bookie Love Song” both contain machine like riffs and the head banging mentality which could take Scribe to the masses. 

And then there's Bitchslap, a blisteringly fast metal band with a drummer who sounds like he could give Tim Yeung or Derek Roddy a run for their money. “My Chemical Dream” sounds like a faster, darker and generally more aggressive version of Children Of Bodom, who really can shred! Though the band only have two tracks on the CD they leave you gagging for more as “Through The Looking Glass” is so heavy it may induce vomiting.  

Amidst The Chaos again have two tracks featured here, each with epic grinding guitars along the lines of Bolt Thrower, fused with Arch Enemy style vocals. This four piece have also gone for the less is more formula, rather like Bitchslap, and the two tracks are a mixture of the band’s brutality, most obviously with “Latent Principle” and their musical precision in “5 Minus 1”.

The two bonus tracks included on the album are from the excellent Pin Drop Violence and also Demonstealer, who consist of several members of the other bands on the compilation. In essence an underground super group, and also featuring the mysterious Mr. Demonstealer. Once again Demonstealer Records have put together an impressive compilation of rising metal from India, let’s hope we’ll be hearing from these bands again soon.

Let us know your views on Fine Tuned Disasters

Track Listing

Track Listing (Artist/Release)

Bhayanak Maut - Malignant
Boiled. Unwound. Filatured.
PICA
Phlegm Blot Technik
Elcit Set Nois Rot

Skincold - Artificial Existence
Low Down
Braindead
4.20
Take Me Away

Scribe - Have Hard. Will Core
Ninety Seconds is One Minute
Buddy
Bookie Love Song
One Wing Pencil

Bitchslap - Picture Perfect
My Chemical Dream
Roadblock

Amidst the Chaos -Catharsis
Latent Principle
5 minus 1

Pin Drop Violence - No Regrets
Demonstealer - Fine Tuned Disaster