Nganga – Duct Tape On Eyes And Mouth (Self-released. 2021).
Formed by veterans of the UK Grindcore scene, the debut EP by Nganga is a putrid slab of gore-drenched Death-Grind that will thrill and excite you as you’re suffocated by the crushing riffs. As soon as you hit play, you are greeted by the opening rotten riffs of Duct Tape On Eyes And Mouth (Heart Removed, Genitals Removed), a song that will have you banging your head to the catchy mid-paced riff that comes hammering into your ears on a swing beat. None of the songs on this debut go into full-on light-speed blast beats, instead being more characterised by more bludgeoning, mid-paced riffs with some higher intensity, faster segments, but not anything with real frenetic blasting. However, for what this EP may lack in warp speed blasting, it more than makes up for in morbid, gore-drenched atmosphere that evokes the vistas of horror described in the lyrics in the mind’s eye. A perfect example of this masterful riff writing comes in the song Bring Me Someone Who Will Scream, where from around the 02:40 mark to the end, you can practically feel yourself sweltering in the oppressive heat and darkness of a Caribbean night, as that evil outro with a thoroughly sinister solo on top of a slower, infernal riff that helps bring to life in one’s mind the terrible images of human sacrifice described in the lyrics. The production is fairly decent on this, with Joe Burwood having done a good job. However, part of me wonders if it could sound even better with a slightly different guitar tone, perhaps one more akin to that found on Symphonies of Sickness? Nevertheless, this is ultimately idle speculation about a slight improvement on what is already a well-produced, well-written debut EP. One of the only drawbacks of this EP is that it feels short, being only around 11 minutes in length, which leaves you hungry for more, like a rabid zombie in need of blood, gore, and death.
7.5/10.
SADISTIC SCREAMS 