GUT: “DISCIPLES OF SMUT”

 

(Vonlughlio prepared the following review of the new album by the German band GUT, which was released by Splatter Zombie Records on May 15th.)

I have to say that I love comeback stories, just as many others around the globe do, and when the comeback is unexpected it’s even better. Of course, the most important aspect of story is still always the music.

The subject of today’s comeback tale is the German death/gore/grind band GUT, who have been around since the early ’90s. For me their 1995 album Odour of Torture is a pure delight for fans in the genre, and so underrated in my opinion.  After that came some splits and EPs the same year — and then came silence.

 

 

In 2006 they released their second effort (The Cumback), which was so different from their debut. So let’s just say that some fans did not partake in the changes. For me, it was a fun album, nothing more or less, but I would not consider it a classic.  Back then, I thought, okay, they are back and will give us more music — and they did that by quickly releasing some splits. But then again silence fell for more than a dozen years, until now, and the new full-length released by Splatter Zombie Records.

This new one, Disciples of Smut, is spectacular from the moment you press play, going to the dark and filthy in ways that will make sick to your core.  From the cover to the song titles and sound, it makes me relax as it takes me into another dimension, into gore land.

If you take their second album and did a 180-degree turn in their sound, you’d begin to imagine what happens on the new one. The guitar is a lot heavier, and there is a natural sound, with the band making sure that all the instruments are present in force at the center of this opus.  Slow and steady should be the theme, as the songs’ structures are built that way.  The vocals are just insane and true to the genre while fitting perfectly to the music.

These guys just came out of nowhere (at least I was unaware they were releasing a new album so late in the game) and produced what has become one of my favorite releases of this year. Since its release it has been in my constant rotation. This album is just filthy, disgusting, and in-your-face goregrind.  This 14-song greatness clocks out at 47 minutes, and the minutes pass by really fast (which is good), making for repeated listens back-to-back. In time it will be considered a classic on its own terms.  I just hope they don’t wait another 14 years for another full-length.

So if you like the genre, this is a mandatory purchase, and I can tell you for sure it will be among my top picks for 2020.

BUY:
https://splatterzombierecords.bandcamp.com/album/disciples-of-smut
http://www.splatterzombierecords.com

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/GUTSOUNDSYSTEM/