The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: The Isle of Disenchantment
Artist: Psycroptic
Label:Unique Leader
Release Date: 2001

Rating: 4 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Blind (4/13/03):
    Some of the best death metal and grindcore bands I have heard, such as Damaged and T666, have come from Australia. Although not technically from there (actually from Tasmania), Psycroptic is a blistering mix of guttural growls, grinding guitars, blast beats, and very catchy songs. This band also sports some of the most impressive vocal talent I've heard in a while.

    First, the obligatory comparisons:

    1. Music: Dying Fetus (especially Killing on Adrenaline) immediately comes to mind. Drum trickery, like in Darkane's Rusted Angel , is there as well. Maybe a little Deeds of Flesh (ultra-technicality), also. Its fast and heavy as hell; let's leave it at that.
    2. Vocals: the vocalist (Mathew Chalk) has the range of George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher from Cannibal Corpse. I could also compare this guy to Jason Blachowicz (Malevolent Creation, Divine Empire), but with more talent. Some parts of songs sound like the vox from Anal Blast. You get the idea. High shrieks, coherent growling, and the compulsory element of rage are all prominent here.

    One of the biggest problems you are going to have with this CD is finding it! It was released once as a 2,000-copy pressing. I had to look for months on ebay for it. (It was worth it; just check out the mp3s on their web site.)

    Speaking of the mp3s, those songs ("Carnival of Vulgarity," "Psycroptipath," and especially "Condemned by Discontent") are among the best on the album. This is to be expected, however. You don't think they'd put crap on their web site, do you? (Another of my favorites is "Beneath the Ground We Dwell.")

    In addition, these tracks (and of course, the rest on the album) showcase some impeccable production. I actually put on the above-mentioned Dying Fetus album while listening to The Isle of Disenchantment, and Psycroptic's music was louder and clearer. (Note that TIoD is not on Unique Leader; it's an independent release. This is why its excellent production surprises me.)

    I give this release four skulls only because it is not exactly original. It's kick ass death/grind played by very talented young men, but it has been done before. However, the track Psycroptic offers for their next album, "A Planetary Discipline," which can be found on the Unique Leader Records home page, smokes! It has the potential for a five-skull rating, and I am going to get my paws on it as soon it is released.

    Still, I highly recommend this album. It's tight, technical, brutal, energized, and a blast to listen to.
    4 out of 5

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