Band:	Infection
Album:	Beheaded Children Contest
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	August 15, 2020
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Beheaded Children Contest
02. Excrement Overdose
03. Horrific Accident Was Not An Accident
04. Rape... Kill... Rape
05. First Your Kid, Then Your Wife, Then You
06. The Kill [Napalm Death cover]

Probably one of the few sport contests you won't see on Sky or ESPN anytime soon.

Throw Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse and Merciless Terror into a blender and you'll have a bloody mess?and an idea of what Peru's Infection sound like. Their 4th release Beheaded Children Contest will get the hairs on the back of your head to stand up as you headbang.

Blending the sonic intensity of grindcore and death metal with the brutality of both lyrically, and you have an EP that reveals in darkness, though you would be hard pressed to dwell on it for long given the ferocity and speed Infection maintain throughout. From the Cattle Decapitation-worthy "Excrement Overdose" to "First Your Wife, Then Your Kid, Then You", which plays around with varying the fury somewhat, you have an EP that takes the route of brute force to create a space in your mind.

While the band does fall afoul of a common issue with the brutal death metal scene, in that creating a unique identity is sacrificed in the name of extremity, there are spots dotted around that give Infection a twist of character. It is an EP designed to shake the cobwebs out of your head rather than work their way through your system.

Canessa and Palacios do well to round out the sound given that Infection are a two piece; while sometimes picking elements out of the whirlwind is difficult, it can be rewarding, with the guitar work in particular managing to blend the roles of adding to the heaviness while having memorable moments, especially on the title track.

Beheaded Children Contest will give you a good flavour of what Infection offer; it may not be the most original meal but it is cooked and served up well (hopefully not the same meal as on "Excrement Overdose").