Smashing together the macabre intensity of death metal with the chugging, technical gymnastics of metalcore, Utah’s
Chelsea Grin brutalize listeners with their punishing sophomore effort,
My Damnation. A whirlwind of searing riffs and anguished vocals punctuated by pummeling breakdowns, the album attacks the listener with a relentless deathcore barrage. And though the separate parts that make up these songs are powerful on their own, the contrast between the suffocating, rapid-fire guitar blasts and the lurching breakdowns creates a kind of cathartic roller coaster, providing visceral release around every twist and turn of the songs with minimal time to gather yourself up before the next song begins. In terms of innovation,
Chelsea Grin aren’t pushing the boundaries of the genre into any bold new territories, but what they do deliver is a very solid collection of face-smashing songs that will provide plenty of fuel for the mosh pit carnage that’s sure to arise after repeated listenings of
My Damnation. ~ Gregory Heaney