Ektomorf What Doesn’t Kill Me
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Hungarian extreme metal act Ektomorf returns with What Doesn’t Kill Me, their eight studio release. Ektomorf has always had a tough sound to pin down. Soulfly is probably the best point of comparison, in that both bands incorporate ethnic and regional elements into a rhythm-heavy thrash metal sound. Ektomorf also freely borrows from metalcore and nu metal for their very eclectic, very aggressive brand of metal. They’re essentially the perfect band for metal fans who get their music exclusively from mall retailer Hot Topic.
What Doesn’t Kill Me picks up right where 2005’s Outcast left off. All of the elements present on previous Ektomorf albums are here as well – the thick nu metal riffs, exotic rhythms, hardcore breakdowns, and Zoltan Farkas’ larynx-destroying harsh, almost rap-like vocals. The lyrics, especially on songs like “New Life”, “Revenge To All” and the title track, are full of rage and defiance, and should resonate with fans of Hatebreed-style hardcore.
What Doesn’t Kill Me is pretty much what we’ve come to expect from Ektomorf, and that may not be a good thing. It’s good to see a band that is comfortable with their style, but this album doesn’t give the impression that the band is challenging themselves or their listeners. There’s no sense of growth or progression, merely a repeat – albeit an enjoyable one – of previous Ektomorf efforts. Iron Maiden and Judas Priest can get away with that sort of thing, but extreme metal is all about pushing the boundaries, and that’s not really happening here. And no, adding a rapper on “Scream” doesn’t count. Limp Bizkit beat that tired horse a decade ago.
The bottom line is that if you’re already an Ektomorf fan, What Doesn’t Kill Me shouldn’t disappoint. At the same time, if you’re expecting to see some growth or progression from the band, you won’t find much of that here. Newcomers interested in what Ektomorf has to offer should find What Doesn’t Kill Me an accurate representation of the band’s work, though for a better first impression their 2004 album Destroy may be a better bet.
Label: Nuclear Blast
Lineup:
Zoltan Farkas – Vocals
Csaba Farkas – Bass
Jozsef Szakacs – Drums
Laszlo Kovacs – Guitar
Track Listing:
1. Rat War
2. Nothing Left
3. What Doesn’t Kill Me
4. Revenge To All
5. Love and Live
6. I Can See You
7. I Got It All
8. New Life
9. Sick Of It All
10. Up To You
11. Envy
12. Scream
13. Breed the Fire
Online: www.ektomorf.com
Hardrock Haven Rating: 6/10