Primitive Warfare - Extinction Protocol

North Carolina’s Primitive Warfare burst into the Metal world back in 2018, but didn’t really start garnering attention until their splits in 2020. Containing both members from the band Demiser, Godz ov War picked up their mix of Black Metal and Death Metal mixed with almost some Grindcore for just a relentless sound on their full length debut “Extinction Protocol.” This album is raw, loud, and while not as well produced as some of other Godz ov War’s artists, again the minimalistic approach of both Pu239 on drums and vocals alongside U235 on vocals and guitar bring on the impressive showcase of what bands like Satyricon can deliver with minimal tools. While Satyricon grew for a more grandiose sound over time, Primitive Warfare keeps their war driven music blasphemous and simple, touching on influences from Gorgoroth to Rotten Sound for just a focus of being loud. Everything despite its rather gritty tone is balanced- the drums, fuzzy guitar wall of sound, and shrieks and growls all come across clear. While some tracks like the opening one use samples here and there, the band avoids the filler route (save for the rather drawn out ‘Iron Sight Omnipotenece’ which carries on too long), and most of the tracks just deliver blast after blast after blast. Primitive Warfare rarely slow down and ‘Nuclear Regression’ is a fine example of that. It is simple and rather repetitive, bordering on Brutal Death Metal with how fast and loud it tries to be- especially on the drumming front- but the band does their best to show their heaviest, Grindcore tinged side, gaining fans who might dig such bands like Benighted.

Other tracks like ‘Spears of Emission’ have more chugging moments that slow things down a bit, and the title track has an amazing ‘march style’ with the drums which are the highlight of the album. While the vocals are pretty basic swaps of Death Metal style growls like that of Mortician- but clearer- or the snarls like that of God Dethroned’s earlier albums, the way they trade off will keep listeners interested, but it is really the drums that deliver the album’s focal point, whether on fast or slower tracks. Some tracks might be a little too blistering like the closing ‘Heretic Crusade’ but even one’s like these have their somewhat slower moments at times with the riffs but they are short and aren’t meant to be breathers or fillers like the samples. “Extinction Protocol” is meant to hit hard and deliver a message that isn’t pretty to hear. While a bit more raucous than your average Death Metal fan might like, the touches into Grindcore or even Hardcore territory especially with the speed will give Primitive Warfare a wider audience, and even Slam fans might enjoy it for the ‘ugly’ approach of the sound, though the lack of slams and focus on speed might be a bit much for them. While not one’s typical mix of Black and Death Metal, Primitie Warfare do deliver a very fast, very volatile concoction on their first album that takes the nihilistic approach of Black Metal with the march to war approach of Death Metal, not quite a refined as Cobalt or Hail of Bullets, but still eye opening and oppressive in its wall of sound that will appeal to fans of either genre. Have minimalistic expectations for “Extinction Protocol” but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a bare bones lo-fi Dodsferd listen of hate either.

3 / 5 STARS