BECERUS – Troglodyte

You could almost stop at the name alone to grasp the profile, concept, and intent of this band. But with any project, especially one from Italy, it’s worth digging deeper. Doing so helps frame it properly.

 

Becerus is a Palermo-based trio formed in 2021. The lineup features Giorgio Trombino (also known for his work with Assumption), alongside Mario Musumeci and Paul Bicipitus. Signed to the ever-sharp Everlasting Spew Records, the band has already made their mark with their debut Homo Homini Brutus. It’s a dense slab of violence and brutality that mirrors—unsurprisingly—the themes it tackles.

 

Forget complex subject matter. Instinct, impulse, and sheer aggression are the only elements you’ll encounter here. Everything aligns perfectly—not just with the band’s identity, but with their chosen sound. That sound is heavily inspired by Cannibal Corpse and Broken Hope, particularly in its riff structures and vocal intensity, yet never falls into over-the-top excess. It’s a classic, stripped-down approach that avoids predictability. The band strikes a fine balance between their tongue-in-cheek attitude—marked by intentionally exaggerated brutality—and the sheer impact drawn from records like The Bleeding and Loathing. These same vibes resurface in their latest effort, Troglodyte. It is easily one of the most brutal releases to come out of Italy this year. As mentioned, there’s little innovation. But it’s the substance that makes the record compelling. This isn’t about sophistication or catering to refined tastes. It’s about blunt-force trauma delivered through tracks like Aggressive Illiterate, Primordial Instinct, and Bestius. Relentless, high-speed drumming underpins Mario Musumeci’s growl—brutal, seismic, and unforgiving. Oppressive riffs echo the legacy of Evisceration Plague. Despite its largely uniform, consistent structure, the album flows seamlessly. There are no jarring transitions between tracks. The result is an immediate, hard-hitting experience driven by passages that embody pure, primitive instinct.

 

There’s not much more to add. Troglodyte is a concentrated blast of violence and impulsiveness. It lacks major innovation, perhaps, but never descends into banality. For death metal fans, Becerus is far from a band to overlook. Instead, keep them firmly on your radar, especially if you prefer your music direct, raw, and to the point.