Forward Into Regression

Maruta are a Florida-based grindcore band whose take on the genre is more death metal-based (lots of double bass drumming on songs like "Stagnation Routine") than some of their punkier peers. They've also added a bass player (and changed drummers, as former skinsman Nick Augusto joined Trivium) since 2008's In Narcosis. The short songs typical of grindcore are definitely still present, of course; the shortest track on Forward into Regression is "Drown in Black Matter," which cruises to the finish line in an efficient 41 seconds. "Body Weapon" is only ten seconds longer. But there are two tracks here, "Failure King" and "Blood of the Luddite," which pass the three-minute mark, a somewhat astonishing display of bloat. Some songs, like "Salient," are even slow; that one rolls along in low gear, almost doomy until drummer Danny Morris starts breaking it up with ultra-heavy fills in its second half. A lot of grindcore is just a rote backdrop for the vocalist to hurl hoarse imprecations against the government and society; Maruta are pretty serious musicians, and there's a lot of variety and impressive technical playing on Forward into Regression. Listeners who can handle the breakneck speed and occasional outbursts of dissonance would be well advised to pay attention to these guys.