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Aortic Regurgitation > Aortic Regurgitation > Reviews
Aortic Regurgitation - Aortic Regurgitation

Solid Death Thrash - 81%

abloodredpath, March 17th, 2012

Aortic Regurgitation are a brand new thrash metal band hailing from China. They show a lot of promise on their first release, but like any debut release it suffers from a few draw backs.

This is Thrash, which is good and it is also bad. There is a reason that thrash virtually disappeared when the 90's hit. Thrash is a very limited genre and is in itself a means to an end. If thrash metal gets too melodic it turns into power metal and if it become too brutal it becomes death metal, thrash metal is a transitional genre that thrived before heavy metal met its logical extremes. Although thrash metal is limited in its ability to diversify, it has many branches. There is a huge difference between Sarcofago's "INRI" and Anthrax's "Among the Living." Aortic Regurgitation is among the more extreme variety of thrash and borders on death metal, in a similar way to early Sepultura, Kreator and Sodom.

You have heard this release before and if what I stated in the first paragraph is true it is impossible for you not to have (assuming you are a fan of thrash metal.) The riffs on this album vary between the German and Brazilian scenes, but every now and then I hear some good ol' mid-paced "bay-area-thrash" palm muting. The fake drums are brilliantly programmed, they sound like the person behind the computer had just as much experience behind a real drum set because they sound like something a drummer would actually play. The bass playing is a highlight for me as the bassist seems to understand that it isn't always necessary to mirror the guitarist and strictly play root notes, the bass playing really shines on "Alien Worlds" and "Dementia." The vocals are good if not fairly stereotypical for extreme thrash (not that its a real problem.) The real problem is that they are mixed very poorly, and sound like they were recorded on a very poor microphone contrasting the good guitar tone.

Since I have decided that it is virtually impossible to record a unique thrash album in 2010 the only way to judge a thrash album is the memorability of the song writing itself. None of the songs on this album are really overtly memorable, the best song would have to be "Dementia," the melody that comes in at the half way point really sines and shows the band's skill as song writers. "Silent Night" is a great closer and very enjoyable. That is all I can really say about this EP, other than that it all just kinda blurs together into a homogeneous mass of thrash metal. I don't know why the longest song on this release is an instrumental, it doesn't make much sense and it reminds me of Metallica (it always bothered me that they did that.)

This is a good thrash album, and is above the bar for a debut release. The problems with memorability will no doubt be resolved on future releases that I would be very interested in hearing. This is also worth checking out if you are interested in extreme metal bands with female vocalists.

Damned to Serve Aortic Regurgitation - 80%

Zerberus, October 24th, 2011

Thrash metal is by far one of my favourite genres. Not as versatile as other genres, it originates from hardcore punk and has had a huge influence on modern metal. Among one of the more aggressive sub genres, thrash metal is also quite popular and has been so since it was pioneered by American bands like Metallica and Slayer in the early 80's.

China is not a country usually connected with metal music, let alone thrash, and indeed this is the first Chinese metal band I've ever heard. The Hong Kongese thrash band Aortic Regurgitation released their first material, the eponymous five-track ep "Aortic Regurgitation". Thrash metal, to me, needs the following ingredients to work: fast and ripping riffs, rapid drumming, throat-tearing vocals and gritty production. This ep has all of those things, with vocals not entirely unlike those of Morbid Saint vocalist Pat Lind and a hellishly dirty sound make up for an outstanding 22 minutes of utter destructive thrash from the fiery pits of hell.

The filthy vocals of the female singer Cynthia "Syn" Yim infect the mind of the listener with absolute brain-rupturing sonic terror combined with the thrashy riffs, reminding me mostly of the beastly thrash metal of South America. The Chinese duo succeeds in producing demonically fast-paced metal with elements of both black and death metal, creating a bastard child of clear malevolence and evil.

Relentlessness, mind-terrorizing vocals and intricate riffs altogether make up for the obvious use of computer drumming, and Aortic Regurgitation - though the name sounds like death metal - delivers straight to the point filthy thrash metal from the far east. I'm looking very much forward to hearing more from this Asian duo. After listening to this manifestation of evil, I'm definitely Damned to Serve.

Originally written for www.gouls-crypt.blogspot.com

Aortic Regurgitation - Aortic Regurgitation - 85%

padshiyangel01, June 14th, 2011

Since its inception in the 60s, metal has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon and stretches across all the major continents. True, there are hubs of activity such as Finland, the US and Germany, but there are certainly many talented bands who hail from countries which aren't instantly connected to metal. And here are where Aortic Regurgitation step in.

Chinese thrash metal is what's on the menu, from strong opener “Damned To Serve” to the frenzied finale of “Silent Night”. Cynthia Yim and Charles Wong work brilliantly in tandem. The former delivers a ferocious and occasionally guttural bark, which although impressive to hear, unfortunately ends up either buried or overpowering. The latter gives some great basswork such as in the instrumental “Alien Worlds” and “Silent Night”. Both of them then combine together to create some memorable riffs in the vein of Kreator, Celtic Frost and Legion of the Damned (according to them), technical solo trade-offs and some drum programming which strangely doesn't feel completely inhuman.

Stand-out points for me on first listen were the vocals and the solowork, both of which demand the listener's attention and sound fantastic when intertwined on “Dementia”. However, after repeats the basswork and riffs begin to shine through, and the EP clicks together as a whole. The lyrics match the music in intensity, from the two provided, and it's easy enough to guess the material from the song titles. On the whole, this is certainly an EP that can withstand multiple listens.

It becomes challenging to pick holes in this release, and that is not due to its brevity; clocking in at 22 minutes, it shows just how tightly this band deliver. A couple of flaws in the vocal mixing bring down an otherwise great EP, but aside from that the main flaw I find is in the 7-minute “Alien Worlds”, which after a riff that sounds remarkably Heathen-esque, loses its structure in the middle somewhat and ends up feeling more like a movement than a song. Fortunately it still keeps the listener's attention well, including a well-placed melodic bass section!

From what little I know of Chinese metal in general, Aortic Regurgitation sound the most mature and developed to come from a surprisingly large scene. Anybody with a penchant for the heavier side of thrash should definitely give this a try. I must commend the band on a brilliant debut EP, and I'll be sure to check out any future releases that may come.

Originally found on: http://mostlymetal.wordpress.com

Top Notch Thrash - 90%

jugchord07, December 3rd, 2010

Aortic Regurgitation is a two piece thrash band based in Hong Kong. The band features a female vocalist/guitar player, which as most will know isn't the most common occurring thing in thrash or metal in general. With that being said she can hold her own with most of the men in the scene these days. Fortunately this aspect isn't the only interesting thing the band has to offer. If you want well written riffs that would fit in on some of the old school classics blended with a pummeling atmosphere that is attempted but failed countless times by other bands, Aortic Regurgitation has come to put those other failed attempts of sinister sounding thrash to rest.

Their five track ep starts with all cylinders firing with "Damned To Serve" and it is clear that they have come to do one thing and one thing only, thrash your fucking brains out! It is hard to resist headbanging to the riff that introduces this beast of an ep. The sound being displayed is a chaotic but menacing form of thrash that captures the same brutal feel that bands like Morbid Saint did back in the day. While the chaos is quite a big element in the sound Aortic Regurgitation pumps out they do fall into some fairly infectious grooves just enough to give the songs a memorable quality (not that you'll be forgetting this skull splitting thrash attack anytime soon).

Another great thing about this ep is that it has excellent production. It sounds like something that could've had a label backing it and that is something that many bands in their early stages can't seem to get down. You can even hear the bass throughout, as always this is a plus for any album. The bass thickens up the music and gives it an even more devastating sound.

The drum programming here is very well done. Drum programming may be frowned upon by most but when done right (like it is here) it can actually sound quite authentic. As always real drumming will reign supreme but the programming here is about as good as it gets. Overall all the instruments mesh to make a damn good blend for a killer thrash album. When listening it shows that they didn't go the half assed route that far too many in this new wave of thrash have chosen. Instead they took their time and brought one of the most unrelenting thrash albums this year.

Overall this is a fine piece of metal that will have you aching for a full length release. Until then, the few tracks on here should be in heavy rotation. It's difficult to say whether or not Aortic Regurgitation will get the attention they deserve considering what is "popular" now, but as long as they keep putting out quality thrash like this they've made a new fan. If one is looking to get their face melted, this is the place to be.

A worthy thrash release - 85%

overkill666, May 6th, 2010

I’ve been of a fan of thrash metal for a while now. Like any musical genre, it’s hit or miss for me (or really anyone). On the more brutal side of thrash, I really dig bands like Morbid Saint, Fastkill, and similar artists. So when I saw the promotion for Aortic Regurgitation, I had to look into it. Just the name had me thinking it was going to be a heavy thrash metal album. I was also intrigued by the female vocals that were advertised, since you don’t see very many female vocalists in thrash bands (save for Holy Moses, etc). After listening to it for a while, this is what Aortic Regurgitation left me with.

Oh man, the opening song pounds you into dust. I really like the speed and presentation of the riffs it. ‘Damned to Serve’ really is homage to the 80’s vibe, though it doesn’t have the cheese that a lot of the retro bands offer today. Instead of cheese, you get a wrecking ball of heavy and fast riffing. Fair trade off, eh? Along with the fast and the heavy, you get a side of melodic riff structure to make the sound as a whole more complex. Even the bass jumps out during the song and adds it’s spice to the mix. When it does jump out, it has that chugging goodness that the bass guitar should offer with this style of music. The drum programming is also very solid. The blast beats and fills are managed in a way that could be pulled off live, which is how I think bands should use them. Also, even though they’re programmed, they important and unique to the sound of Aortic Regurgitation. Lastly, we have the vocals. The closest adjective I’d like to use to describe them would be vicious. They sound like a female version of Pat Lind (Morbid Saint). With that being said, the vocals are awesome. It’s hard to tell they are distinctly female, as well.

All of that for just the first track? Well, the rest of the ep as a whole has the same effect. Though, I’d like to point out a few more things before I end this review. The musicianship as a whole is very tight. The guitar solos are a fine example. They come and flow easily into the tracks, as well as just sounding interesting. No one likes a random guitar solo thrown in where it doesn’t need to be, much less one that sounds awkward. I also really enjoy the tone of the guitar. It has the right amount of beef for my tastes. A lot of bands fail at this part, usually recording their guitar parts with a tone much too thin to create a heavy sound. The production value of this ep is also ranked high, simply because everything is audible. There’s not an instrument or a vocal piece that’s left out in the cold, everything sounds very whole. I have a lot of beef with bands that don’t utilize their instruments and it’s always the bass that gets left in the dust. I assure you, you’ll hear everything meant to be heard on this ep.

At my final conclusion, this is a heavy release. Especially for those of you who really enjoy the heavier side of the thrash realm. I haven’t seen a lot of new bands that have caught my eyes and ears, but there’s such a huge sea of new bands forming that it’s hard to keep up. Thankfully for the Metal-Archives, I can try to help you see what is subjectively good. Aortic Regurgitation falls under this category for me. Rest assured, I don’t like wasting my time or yours. This is worth twenty two minutes and forty one seconds of your time.

Ahhh I'm Infected! Ahh - 76%

orionmetalhead, March 24th, 2010

Hong Kong unveils Aortic Regurgitation, thrashy, capable and well composed (aside for their chaotic charm) on this first EP who prove themselves keen to release speedy, infectious (not unlike SARS) and intricate onslaughts of a slightly slanted sort. Tracks such as "Infestation" contain a twisted sentiment assembled from at times awkward phrasings and transitions but even though Aortic have this going for them, at times there is a drudged up sentiment, as if everything is just a little too "safe" or "commonplace." Aortic are not too retro to try new ideas, such as the mid-song sample in "Infestation" which, when they occasionally don't work, are at least thought provoking. The tracks DO work though, especially opening salvo "Damned To Serve," which rumbles on like a beastly blackened dragon dropping blistering corpses into your town thus spreading disease and filth. It's just a matter of time before you've caught fourteen terminal illnesses can't move and begin pleading with everyone who passes to kill you because you can't get the sounds of dying out of your mind.

Influence wise, thrash is the instigator here and though its difficult to pick out specifics with Aortic Regurgitation, I think a comparison to largely unknown bands like Hallow's Eve being appropriate. In this case both bands are passionate though don't really come across that way on record. Melodically speaking, I hear Voivod but then again, Aortic could be influenced by any number of melodically awkward bands. The whole EP is layered with a 90's dying thrash scene sound too, which is odd. It's like Aortic have tried to capture the bands recording records during the demise of their own era. The vocal delivery reminds me of thrash bands that were combing the death metal waters vocally for inspiration such as Coroner or even some of the German bands which may have influenced the harsher vocals in bands after them. The vocals are harsher than those found in the Bay Area scene.

Aortic haven't left out influences from the blackened thrash of this decade either... Basically, a lot of different bands are here blended like your father's suit in a food processor.... with your father still inside. It's at once refreshing and also quizzical in the sense that while the blending of these styles is done well, there is this aura of mischievous laughter in the background telling me what I am listening to is just slightly ridiculous. That thought occurs a few times though it's fleeting. Aortic are both throwback with their riffs, experimental like some of the modern bands in the underground and also colorful... like a clown in a shag-van. It's like biting into a new fruit and sloshing the juices around in your mouth before you decide if you like the textures and flavors.

While not all the tracks are prime cuts, "Alien Worlds" for example being a bit too vast and far-fetched, there is enough to make Aortic Regurgitation's first time enjoyable for somebody. It'll appeal to thrash fans looking for more than the next atomic holocaust retro band with Repka artwork. At the very least, it will be more interesting than another new Exodus record. With some extra attention paid to packaging - nice matte card-stock, professionally printed foldout inserts with lyrics, pro-printed CDr label and a sturdier-than-normal CDr case (CDr Deluxe?) - though not quite enough to get some more interesting cover-art, Aortic are doing almost everything right to make me want to know what's going to happen next with these thrashers. Where they take their strange thrashcoction is anyone's guess.

Oh! I forgot to mention the musicianship and playing/programming on this puts many to shame. The production is clear and well mixed though still one-hundred percent underground. I love the intro to "Damned To Serve." As soon as I put it on, I thought "I hope that the release doesn't sound like this the whole way throu... Ok, thank god." Charles Wong (Guitars / Bass / Drum Programming) and Cynthia "Sin" Yim (Guitars / Vocals (Yep, Read that again - I wasn't going to Gallhammer Aortic with the whole "girls in a band" gimmick) / Lyrics / Drum Programming) are raising the bar in modern thrash inspired by classic bands but never worshiping anyone else. So while everyone's job just got harder, Aortic Regurgitation have left themselves on the high ground with plenty of ammunition and an ill equipped populace closing in on them. I smell total destruction. If Aortic Regurgitation's next release is at least as good as this release, I'm sold.

www.contaminatedtones.blogspot.com