LIFELESS

Ibex Moon got their own ENTOMBED when they picked up FATALIST, and now with LIFELESS, they have their very own DISMEMBER. Even if you miss the visual cues, like the quoting of DISMEMBER and UNLEASHED lyrics in the thanks list, the melodic speed-picked riffs and burbling low-tuned guitar tone will tell you all you need to know about the influences this U.S. band wear proudly on their sleeves.

Like FATALIST, LIFELESS is hampered by production that's low-buck in a bad way — stiff and digital without being truly heavy or sonically crushing. The drumming's a little clunky, and the songs occasionally stray into generic territory. But for a good portion of "Beyond the Threshold of Death", these acolytes do their heroes proud, adding some blasting and churning out plenty of satisfying Sweden-circa-1992 riffs and lumbering tank-tread rhythms.

Strip away the intro and the cover of "Casket Garden", and you have less than a half hour of material here — but the good stuff is great, especially "Retaliation". It's probably the most blatant DISMEMBER worshipping cut (in a close race with "In the End... (Of Life)"),but it's a rager, with a sobbing melodic solo and a riff that's one for the ages. At the end of the day, the enthusiasm and gung-ho death metal spirit LIFELESS bring to the table are just about enough to overcome their flaws, and make them worth checking out to any old-school fan in need of a fix. A little more experience under their belts, and a stronger production next time out, and these guys could be unstoppable.