CoC : Withered Earth - Something So Pure : Review

Withered Earth - _Something So Pure_
(White Noise, 1999)
by: Paul Schwarz (8.5 out of 10)

Withered Earth's debut, _Forgotten Sunrise_ [CoC #36], impressed me quite considerably after I received it from their then record company, Italy's Cryptic Soul. The band's inventive craft of mixing the types of breakdowns, repeated circular structures and catchy grooves which are more commonly associated with the hardcore style of bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan or Vision of Disorder with a dark and guttural death metal core which owes its debt to the sludgily atmospheric likes of Incantation and Immolation provided a sufficiently fresh perspective on death metal to make me stand up and pay close attention. _Something So Pure_ is an EP which follows much the same vein musically but adds an improved production, by Bill Koreckie (Incantation), and somewhat tighter songwriting to Withered Earth's list of pros. Withered Earth are steadily honing their craft, and I think it wouldn't be a considerable stretch to expect their upcoming second full length to be something worthy of considerable attention.

Contact: 5 Beechwood Drive, Rochester, NY 14606, USA

(article published 12/10/1999)

ALBUMS
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	8.5	Withered Earth - Forgotten Sunrise

GIGS
9/1/1998	A Wasylyk	Withered Earth / Necronomicon / Deeds of Flesh / Dying Fetus / London Death Fest	Milwaukee, Eat Your Heart Out