Review by Tobias on November 24, 2001.

Ok Grind-Gore-Core fans, you won’t have to listen too closely because you can hear these monsters a mile away. Any fan of DeathVomit Records will probably be a fan of this album. I feel I can safely say that because while not being a fan of the typically unoriginal genre, I feel that this disc brings some very unexpected elements to remove us from the more mediocre sounds that wrap around the universal speedy gore-beat.

Spreading medical terms like vomit topping on a shit-sandwich, the vocals exist on some hellish plane of low that manages to outdo the deepest guttural utterances of a two-ton boar in a feeding frenzy. At times you get teased with a whiplash of a black-metal scream, for which I hunger a little more on this disc.

One of the funniest things that the vocalist does on the disc is on a live track when introducing the one of the songs is that he growls the title of the song, (perhaps not) expecting everyone to understand Pedophilamorphia Of Exchreacholemical Endolapse.

There’s really nothing wrong with the guitars and rhythm section, but there’s really nothing too special about them either. It’s mostly in the form of samples and electronics that the most original elements in a genre like this shine up the brutally sick music as with tracks like Crevice Flux Warts. However, to their credit there are tracks like Haemorph Endarteriectomized Punzed Eozinophile and my favorite live track In The Acro Cyanotic Post Cloning Ectopysm, that the musicians get a strong flavor for originality going.

There were times on the album, some on the live tracks and some on the studio where a better mixing job could’ve been done, particularly with the snare drum. But overall, I was quite impressed with how well the live tracks turned out.

Oh, and then there’s the, ah… how shall we say it? “Artwork”, yes, that’ll do. This is without a doubt the most gruesome artwork ever printed on a CD sleeve. If you haven’t seen it, it’s an emaciated looking stillborn child protruding halfway from a very bloody vagina. I think it’s quite representative of the gore-fest beatings this disc delivers.

Bottom Line: Gore-heads should grab this one and hold on really freakin’ tight, stomachs will be churning. We just need some more of those original elements.

Categorical Rating Breakdown…
Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 6
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 7.2 of 10

Review by JD on May 15, 2011.

I always knew that the local metal scene here had a diamond in the rough just waiting for me to find it, and I just had to find it. Boy, have I found a band that could be one of the major forces in Death Metal here. Let me tell you of Saskatoon Sk, Canada’s answer to Carcass...Agony Spawn.

With slashing guitars, brutal melodies that burn into your dreams and mind mangling and major gory lyrics to go with it all into one package, Agony Spawn are ones to watch. With all the tools needed, not to mention having this amazing 17 year old girl drummer (Lexie Miller) that kicks harder and plays nastier than anyone out there in any genre of metal - I will make it my solemn mission to make the entire metal world hear about them.

This whole EP is exceptional, but recording wise it is a little on the rough side (a lot) - but for a self recording, it is pretty good. Each song is powerful and well crafted , add in guitar work that is amazing from the start, you have a amazing demo. Even the unfinished track they added on for my benefit was damned good... and shows a band with unlimited potential just waiting to be discovered, to be mentor and then - then fully allowed to be completely unleashed on the metallic masses to take over.

It just goes to show you that a band from a small city of just over 200,000 people can develop a band that very well could be the next metallic force for the world to reckon with. Agony Spawn is that band and all metal labels better take good fucking look and then act on getting these unknown warriors of melodic and powerful Death Metal out there. Saskatoon metal fucking rocks... I always knew that, now there is a band that backs me up!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 7
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10