When it comes to Norwegian grindcore, only one name comes to mind: Parlamentarisk Sodomi. That’s not to say they are by far the best band in Norwegian grind, though they are excellent, it’s just in the 16+ years I’ve written for Teufel’s Tomb, and 27 years I’ve spent listening to metal, they’re the only Norwegian grindcore band I’ve ever listened to, let alone heard of… until now.

Beaten to Death are a Oslo, Norway-based quintet featuring She Said Destroy vocalist Anders Bakke and Tsjuder drummer Christian Svendsen. Together with bassist Mika and guitarists Martin and Tommy they play a melodic brand of grindcore that is both unique, familiar, ferocious and tame, all at the same time.

Xes and Strokes consists of 9 tracks of Nasum Human 2.0, Leng Tch’e Marasmus and Fuck the Facts Die Miserable flavored melo-grind that has the style of those three releases down pretty solidly, but while lacking the feral bite. The best way to describe it is to think of a tamer, gentler version of Human 2.0 with a greater emphasis on melody, mixed with the technical elements of Fuck the Facts, but with a pretty noticeable hipster doofus vibe. Even at their most melodic Nasum, Leng Tch’e and Fuck the Facts still grab you by the throat, knock your teeth out and bash your ears in, but I never get that feeling with Xes and Strokes. It just feels more like they want to hug and kiss you, rather than kick your fucking ass.

That’s not to say the album is poor, it’s certainly got a unique sound with the addition of indie rock and post-metal elements, but the overall feeling is incredibly underwhelming. The drumming of Christian Svendsen is decent, though he hardly puts on a jaw-dropping display of speed or ferocity, and the vocals of Anders Bakke are powerful and varied, but, it falls well short of impressing me. Look at this shit, they’re way too animated playing music this toothless:

It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s not something I’d consider to be good either. Fucking hipsters…

Review byTeufel