Band:	Corrupted
Album:	Paso Inferior
Style:	Doom metal, Sludge metal
Release date:	1997
A review by:	Lucas

01. Paso Inferior

One of the most overlooked bands in the metal scene must be Corrupted. Those that know them praise them for their total unwillingness to compromise and their brutal as fuck, incredibly consistent albums and their full-lengths that feature ingenious songs of jawdropping lengths, weaving brutality and beauty in a breathtaking way. Their last three albums, ""Llenandose De Gusanos", "Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos" and "El Mundo Frio in chronicle order, are all masterpieces in their own way, but what about the first full-length "Paso Inferior"?

"Paso Inferior" is not as outspoken as their later albums. No sledgehammer riffs or stomping brutality, but one long drone of growls, guitar-induced feedback and bass rumbles. Hevi's growls are still one-of-a-kind, his growl possesses a monstrous anger yet also a pondering droning quality. This unusual combination of characteristics makes him sound like a lion's roar, but in slow-motion. Awe - some. The guitars are higher pitched than usual and squeal their panicked feedback screams throughout the entire forty minutes of the album. The heaviness of the drone comes from the four strings, which provides a sludgy, crawling sequence of low notes that slithers through shattered squeals of the guitar. And the drums? Well, it suffices to say that they pretty much re-define the meaning of the word "minimalistic".

In the end it is quite a beautiful release, and I'm not saying that because I want to come across as super-tough or anything, but because these guys really have a knack for making the inhumanly brutal sound wonderful. All together the instruments and vocals create a blur that contains a truly hypnotic power. Within the blur, which has a lovely spacious production, they've buried a surprising amount of melodies. What's even more surprising is that this song, although incredibly minimalistic, never gets boring or dull. The changes in riffs are minimal -what else?- but constant, and that gives this slithering snake a constant fresh sound.

If you don't like repetition, get the hell out, for your own good. In fact, this release is probably the hardest to digest of all four of the full-lengths. Whereas the later three albums pack more brutality, this leans on the hypnotizing effect of droning dooooom. If you are new to the intriguing entity that is Corrupted, I'd recommend you to start out with a different album. My recommendation would be either "Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos" or "Llenandose De Gusanos". However, if you already know and love Corrupted or think you're man enough to handle this release: by all means, go for it. It is another monster release.