CoC : Infamy - The Blood Shall Flow : Review

Infamy - _The Blood Shall Flow_
(Qabalah/Repulse, 1998)
by: Aaron McKay (4 out of 10)

Well, I'm not about to tell anyone that I didn't struggle with this one more than just a little bit. On one hand, I like Infamy's style of self-dubbed "extreme brutal East LA style death/grind", but on the other hand, I have been more impressed by other groups. I understand that Infamy has been on the underground circuit for quite some time. They definitely have a firm grasp on their chosen lot in music. As I listen to _The Blood Shall Flow_, I hear large amounts of Morbid Angel _Alters of Madness_ era influenced overtones and passages. The two guitars without a doubt drive this band forward with a certain hot-knife-through-butter approach. Cool, but not particular to Infamy alone. "Onslaught of Carnage" and "Cryptobiosis" provide the highlights on _TBSF_. These two songs -solely- manifest the talent inherent in Infamy. Both are powerful and equivalent to restrained Armageddon. The impulse behind "Onslaught of Carnage" is almost unspeakable, pausing long enough to surface the prowess of the bass guitar lurching the song further down the listener's ear canal. Likewise, "Cryptobiosis" boasts thrashy shreds and pounding rhythms. I must mention now, as I come to comment on the vocals as hoarse growls spewing forth illustrative massive carnage, that, it is my understanding, Joshua "Jagger" Heatley (bass/vocals) is no longer with us. The disc sleeve and the Repulse website list his death on March 5, 1998. Honestly, my condolences go out to his friends and family. As for Infamy's _The Blood Shall Flow_ release, I would have to say it is more for fans only.

(article published 19/11/1998)