Illinois-based technical brutal death metallers Gorgasm prove that a lot can happen in the span of two years. In 2001 they released their debut full length, Bleeding Profusely, on Extremities Productions, which folded within a few months after the release of the album. Original drummer Derek Hoffman rejoined the group briefly, before being sent packing just as quickly, only to be replaced by Terence Manauis. Bassist Russ Powell left the band, to be replaced by Regurgitation’s Brian Baxter, who was then replaced by Paul Garcia. Somehow amongst all of this chaos guitarist/vocalists Tom Leski and Tom Tangalos were able to carry on and write a new full length release on Unique Leader in the form of Masticate To Dominate. Even with all of the changes, Gorgasm have easily compiled their best material to date on this release. The music is fast, heavy and violent, with plenty of blasts, great riffs, tempo changes, technicality, brutality and great song writing. Dave Culross filled in behind the kit on the last full length as studio musician and did an excellent job, however, Terence Manauis has surpassed his performance on this release, and Paul Garcia’s bass playing is a big step up from Russ Powell, allowing the group to up the technical aspect even higher. While the majority of the album is blazingly fast, they use a lot of breakdowns and tempo changes to keep things interesting, there’s plenty to bang your head to on this release and get you riled up enough to want to throw your body through a wall. Though the band is a brutal death metal outfit, they’re more along the lines of Deeds Of Flesh and Suffocation in that technicality, speed and heaviness are major components of their music, rather than the slow-mid paced slam riff acts using the brutal death metal title. The only thing that I don’t like on this album is the artwork of Jonzig, who is, by far, the worst artist in metal, and this is actually one of his worst looking pieces, but luckily I don’t have to look at the artwork except when I pull the CD out and put it in the stereo. If you’re a fan of brutal death metal and don’t have Masticate To Dominate or Bleeding Profusely you’re missing out big time, be sure and add them to your collection immediately!

Written By: Teufel