Review by Felix on July 9, 2019.

Once again, I received an e-mail that told me something about a "highly anticipated" new album of a band I did not know before. Speedclaw from Croatia? Who? However, I have learnt that Croatians can play football very well (please don't mention the downfall of the German team) and so I thought they will also be able to play metal. The e-mail gave me further hints. "Speedclaw still embody all the energy of the early '80s", for example. Well, very early eighties, because the energy of the band is combined with a certain naivety. Sometimes speed metal in its purest form lacks evil, although a certain viciousness is mostly welcome. However, the dudes focus on the traditional speed metal tools. This means that the songs are guitar-dominated, riff-oriented and, naturally, driven by fast-paced drumming. But they lack this quantum filth that speed formations like Baphomet's Blood integrate almost perfectly. 

The playtime of the EP is longer than that of some so-called full-lengths. Already this fact indicates that the single tracks are based on a good foundation. Maybe the final kick is missing, but everything, the riffs, the solos, the vocals and so on, is well executed. I am no big fan of Maiden-esque instrumental parts and some of the tracks offer, among other things, exactly this kind of sections, but this is not to say that Speedclaw do their work in a flawed way. It's just a matter of taste whether or not one likes the more devastating form of speed metal.

Naturally, there is still room for improvement. "Rising of the Claw" starts with a good riff and straight up-tempo rhythms, but it derails during the meandering instrumental part. The loose and aimless guitars tell me to go to the fridge and get something to drink, because there is no need to give special attention to this section. Anyhow, this unfittingly relaxed sequence does not really bother me. These guys are still at the beginning and they have the potential for a future development. Their clearly structured songs mirror the thoughtful approach of the musicians and so tracks like "Beast in the Mist" or "Aggression Strikes" just make fun. The mixture consists of roughly 75% speed and 25% traditional metal and the warm yet vigorous vocals, the abrasive guitars and the cleverly arranged tempo changes constitute the main pillars of the material. Not to mention the production. "Beast in the Mist" sounds very professional, clean and robust. Even the stereotyped artwork does not suck. Thus, if you like to get a couple of good, speedy songs from the country of the vice world champion, try to find the beast in the mist, rescue the girl from its clutches, make love to her and listen to this output. Meanwhile, I will look for a physical copy of the EP.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Carl on January 8, 2022.

Looking at the artwork of the CD you'd be forgiven to think that this is going to be black metal. The black and white art with the red lettering, the band's moniker and the Rotting Christ and Enslaved shirts some members are wearing on the band pic all give that impression anyway. However, when you push the "play" button on your cd-player you get force-fed a harsh dose of death/grind brutal enough to cause some lasting damage.

The band comes charging out of the gate right away, blasting it out with a sound I could probably best describe as early 90's Suffocation played by Australians. If you are familiar with Aussie bands like Bestial Warlust and Sadistik Exekution, you'll understand what I'm trying to say here. They are perhaps not the most original out there, but looking at what some other death metal acts were doing at that same time (1995), this is just beyond awesome! Psychrist has the skills to pull of the NYDM thing without any problems whatsoever, churning out low-tuned death metal ferocity with blastbeats aplenty, alternating with bludgeoning slower passages. It's in the execution of the music that you can hear that typical deranged Australian vibe coming through, with the band delivering their style with that typical frothing-at-the-mouth insanity we have come to know and respect from those bands I already mentioned. The level of aggression is kept high throughout and the short duration of this EP ensures that the band does not wear out it's welcome anytime soon. Add to this the more than adequate production and you have yourself a short 'n' sweet fix of death metal brutality right here! Those last 5 minutes of weird noise at the end weren't really necessary for me, but if that's the only thing to nag about on a cd as awesome as this, I will kindly overlook that.

This is recommended stuff for everyone into old school stuff like Suffocation, Goreaphobia, Sadistic Intent and Mortician, and I'm willing to bet that people into the more demented black metal stuff like Blasphemy, Ouroboros (CAN) or Spear of Longinus could find something in here as well.

To put it in the words of another bunch of Australians: if you want blood, you've got it !!!