Bonecarver - Evil

If you've been keeping up to date with Unique Leader Records over the last couple of years, you may have spotted Bonecarver as one of the new additions to Jamie Graham's roster of brutal brilliance. Whilst joining as one of the more recent insertions, Bonecarver now share a label with the likes of Cytotoxin, Deeds Of Flesh, Brand Of Sacrifice and many more worthy and also upcoming metal acts from the extreme end of the metal scales.

The four piece originally formed in 2013 under the name of Cannibal Grandpa and released two records under said title. Bonecarver is the band rebranded and back with added brutality. Serving a more sinister, professional approach to the deathcore genre, the band's debut album "Evil" couldn't possibly get any darker than the material presented. Covering lyrical themes of death, torture, mythology and more, the album's artwork showcases despair, gloom and overall a morbid, yet stunning piece of art to draw in any fan of the underground genre.

'Revolver' is a bitter opening track that offers the band's best material among the record which also sets the standard for the remainder of the album. Whilst deathcore is famously known to become dull and stale in lengthy bursts, the production and creativity present is enough to keep your interest peaked through the thirty-seven minutes. Predictable blast beats pummel throughout, followed by groove-tinged riffs that allow Bonecarver to stand out, forcing the band to excel amongst the hordes of breakdown-abusing bands out there at the moment. Vocalist Fernando Del Villar has quite a unique range, sitting somewhere between Jonny Davy (Job For A Cowboy) and Luke Griffin (Acrania), and is able to pull off some of the most intense pig squeals in the deathcore genre. His vocals vary between multiple styles, keeping the band's style crisp and modern as the listener becomes engulfed in Bonecarver's world of desolation.

"Evil" is a classic example of how modern deathcore can be accomplished in a serious manor, but with many original core elements that fans of the genre fell in love with back in the mid 2000's. Many would be stunned to see deathcore still proving it's worth over the last fifteen years but bands like this are carrying the flame to success, whilst pushing the genre's limitations of technical approach, modern production and devastating vocals to the point where the genre possibly has more to offer than most would have originally thought.

4 / 5 STARS


1. Revolver
2. Overtorture
3. The Scythe
4. Mallevs Malificarvm
5. Wormhole
6. Moon Maniac
7. Nest Of Traitors
8. Hound Pound
9. The Blacksmith's Massacre
10. Evil