The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: Butchery of the Soul EP
Artist: Severe Torture
Label: Hammerheart Records
Release Date: 9/3/02

Rating: 2 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Behemoth (12/17/02):
    This review concerns a sampler via Hammerheat with tracks from Severe Torture and a B-side featuring Blood Red Throne. The band started in 1997 and now maintains the following line-up: Dennis Schreurs (Vocals), Thijs van Laarhoven (Guitar), Patrick Boleij (Bass) and Seth van de Loo (Drums). They recorded Baptized, a five-song demo produced by Vincent Dijkers (Sinister, Houwitser), in 1998. The band distributed almost a thousand copies all over the world and received good reactions but no respectable deal. A short time thereafter, their vocalist left the band (oh thatıs the problem) to join Dutch metalers Sinister. Subsequently, Severe Torture recorded a 2-song promo for labels, which received good feedback. After playing a gig with Immolation their guitar player Jelle also left the band; those damnable Immolation guys, they do it every time!

    In the meantime Damnation Records released a 2-song promo on 7" vinyl called Pray for Nothing and limited distribution to 500 hand numbered copies, which sold out. The band then signed a contract with Fadeless Records, after a couple of months Fadeless Records joined Hammerheart and started the sub-label The Plague.

    Severe Torture hit the road with Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Vader, Macabre, Broken Hope and Vomitory. They also did a trip across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Belgium and Holland with Damnation and Pyamiea. After the tour the band started recording the full-length Feasting on Blood at Franky's Recording Kitchen, which was released October 9th, 2000 in Europe and through Hammerheart America in February 2001. For history buffs, The Plague Company changed into Hammerheart Records and offered Severe Torture a new contract. In April 2001, the band invaded the USA via a slot on the Ohio Death Fest together with Exhumed, Deeds of Flesh, Pessimist and Burial.

    Prior to the release of the new album Hammerheart distributed this EP. Production is above par and features heavy and dark notes with a few aggressive riffs. However, the songs are not well structured and often monotonous and repetitious, the listening is equivalent to 'the song remains the same.' Featured spins include "Taking Down the Descender," and the epilogue track "Perverse Suffering."

    The latest record was finished in March 2002 and the band subsequently came to America for a second time including an appearance at the New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, which is a great event. (But, how then did they get on the bill?) The new album is entitled Misanthropic Carnage and the band has been on a European fall tour with Cannibal Corpse, Dew-Scented and Viu Drakh. The unholy rhetoric is somewhat interesting as hymns to the demon entertain, but the overall lack of diversity and creativity on this record dooms it to the bottom of the abyss.
    2 out of 5

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