(Relapse Records) Total Time: 37:42
UPHILL BATTLE returns with their second full-length release of adrenaline pumping death core. Disclaimer: I feel compelled to mention at this point that I'm not a big fan of either hardcore or death metal. Given this, UPHILL BATTLE are a rather technical band for this genre, with some melodies that approach the speed and style of the new wave of Swedish death metal. “Wreck of Nerves” also features a rather spectacular drumming, which is very evident in songs like “Shifting Pain”. Unfortunately, “Wreck of Nerves” also features a cackling singer who does most of the singing – The singer has a high pitched cackle, not dissimilar to the Evil Donald Duck syndrome that many black metal bands seem to suffer for. Unfortunately, this is very annoying, at least to me, and it also seems to dominate most songs. I mentioned “Shifting Pain” before, because of it's wonderful drumming – too bad that this drumming is superimposed with the aforementioned screeches, thus ruining the song for me. Other than that, this release is not bad – The guitars are neurotically up-tempo, the bass guitar equally so and the songs themselves spastic – Nevertheless, although this release seems better than the recent death core releases, the vocals really do not do it any favours.
I have to say that I would go for the HOMOIRATUS release instead of this...
