Caffas Rain - Impending Death

Review by Bonno Zwaan

 

Caffas Rain is a Dutch groove metal/death metal band and has finally released their first full length "Impending Death". The sound they've released on their first ever release "Yersinia Pestis" was quite generic but the EP had some very promising  highlights scattered through it. The 5-piece has presented the world its latest release "Impending Death" and let's see if they have made their mark on the Dutch metal scene.

 

Well, one thing is clear. They've pretty much ditched the most of the groove metal elements in their style. You can pretty much say that they went full death metal. However, the style of death metal is not reinventing the wheel but the whole album does its job well. Throughout the album you will hear some ‘older’ Caffas Rain-groove metal elements. Most of the groove vibe has left however, Caffas Rain has replaced them with a more melodic style of death metal which could draw a bigger audience to their music.

 

What really stands out on "Impending Death" are the vocals. They are done very well and I'm impressed with the growls in particular. They blend in with the ferocious death metal riffage. There are some moments during ‘Impending Death’ where solo’s make their mark. During a couple of them I thought to myself: ‘These aren’t death metal solo’s, these are heavy metal solo’s’. So, the solo’s don’t fit all too well in the songs but the heavy riffing and dual vocals really make up for that. 

 

Throughout the album there are quite a few memorable riffs especially on the track "Nightmare". That intro riff is very catchy and when the vocalist unleashes his growles, the whole song enhances and gets taken to a newer level. 

 

So if you're a fan of bands like Heaven Shall Burn, Amon Amarth and add a small hint of groove, you will have "Impending Death".