YEAH, I’M BACK. And boy howdy, do I need a drink (from the cup of heresy). Fortunately, I’ve got all that and more with this week’s offerings: Worm Shepherd’s Dawn of the Iconoclast and Pipeworks Brewing Company’s Pastrami on Rye.
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The Tunes: Worm Shepherd’s Dawn of the Iconoclast
I’m gonna go ahead and get the uncomfortable part out of the way: I don’t much care for deathcore. I don’t go loco for Lorna Shore, I don’t swoon for Signs of the Swarm, Oceano were just okay, etc. In another time, I was all about it, but now I feel like the way every band is trying to out-extreme each other just makes them all sound…well, boring, if I’m being honest. So when a band like Worm Shepherd has a chance to completely reinvent themselves due to a Catastrophic Lineup Implosion™, how much of that chance do they take to really make a mark on the scene and not just try to out-chug their peers? Dawn of the Iconoclast sees a (relatively) brand new Worm Shepherd, with guitarist Tre Perdue being the only member returning from their previous release, although former drummer Leo McClain returns behind the kit once more. The rest of the band is something of a supergroup made up of members from the likes of Ingested, Archaic Epidemic and Immortal Disfigurement. Tight pedigree, which means that Worm Shepherd have an opportunity to really push themselves and the static confines of the genre.
Unfortunately, for me anyway, these chances are not entirely taken, although if you’re into deathcore then you’re going to find this solid at least. Worm Shepherd allegedly blend their brand of deathcore with symphonic and blackened elements, and while the former is at least on display, I’m having a hard time picking out the latter, which is a shame. Most of what you get is fast blast sections with ultra-slow and plodding breakdowns interspersed, rinse repeat. They are, alas, just trying to get the deepest gutturals and the heaviest chugs instead of going against the grain. The moments on Dawn of the Iconoclast that stand out the most to me are the moments where they are doing the exact opposite, where the symphonic elements and the orchestration shine through. The opening to “The Omen” rips when the piano kicks in, and the guitar solo is a neat little technical showcase when it happens. “Sanctified Rot,” similarly, is a really awesome deathcore waltz, complete with a simulated orchestra to back it up. It feels cool and fresh and different, but then all that momentum comes to a screaming halt when they decide to just pummel the low strings and evacuate the bowels of everyone in the tri-county area. It takes me completely out of the moment, but again, this is more of an “I don’t like it” assessment than a “this is bad” one.
Dawn of the Iconoclast is available now on Unique Leader Records. For more information on Worm Shepherd, visit their Facebook page.
The Booze: Pipeworks Brewing Company’s Pastrami on Rye
Even though we are going through the classic Chicago mini-season of “fake spring” the calendar firmly places us in winter still, and such a time calls for a beer with a heavy backbone. Threading the needle between the hope of spring and the doldrums of winter is another wacky and unconventional offering from Pipeworks, a brewery that I am always happy to take a chance on. Pastrami on Rye is a rye ale, as expected, but brewed with a hefty amount of spice, namely black and red pepper, coriander seed and mustard seed, as well as brown sugar and smoked malt. All the flavors of a pastrami sandwich straight from Manny’s Deli, with whom they have partnered to bring this brew to life. And what a life it is. This is definitely a rye ale; the hefty malt backbone lends a strong foundation and compliments the sweetness of the added brown sugar nicely. The spice isn’t overpowering like you might expect it to be, but it lingers on the end of a long sip, as does the smokiness of the malt. It doesn’t exactly taste like a pastrami sandwich, and I don’t know that I would want it to either, but it sure does pair nicely with one. Pipeworks is known for their experimentation and funkiness, and this is another example of why I trust them with whatever whim they choose to chase.
Well, that’ll do it for now. You know the drill: cheers and be good to each other.
— Ian
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