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When it comes to band names in the metal genre, oftentimes the more outlandish a group is named the more attention they get. This could certainly work in Necrolytic Goat Converter’s favor, as the one-man project from New York caught my attention for that reason. On debut full length ‘Isolated Evolution’ (due out August 18th as an independent release), founder Chris Voss blurs the lines between old-school black metal and depressive black metal while adding in a number of other influences. Today we’re premiering the third song The Dark Within, which showcases a rock/punk swagger mixed in with the abrasive black metal tone. But don’t just take my word for it, as we have a full review of the album below courtesy of Shrivatsan. ~Chris Dahlberg
It’s not always a bright idea to let the internet name something, as evidenced by monikers like Boaty McBoatFace and Trainy McTrainFace. When Chris Voss crowd-sourced the name for his project, Necrolytic Goat Converter was unsurprisingly the final result. This solo black metal project from New York City had caught the attention of the metal audience with their 2016 demo and split release. Now with ‘Isolated Evolution’ their debut full length, the band exhibits how to consolidate a wide spectrum of influences into a well-rounded black metal record. Through the course of the record, one can identify the different eras and styles of black metal that seems to inspire Necrolytic Goat Converter. But the one commonality throughout, is the dense atmosphere and DSBM like melancholy.
The emphasis on melody imparts a deep emotional meaning to the tracks, made apparent right from the start in A Quiet Affirmation. This indicates the growth of the artist as a song-writer and comes off as a more personal record compared to the tongue in cheek attitude in the demo. Equal weight is also given to the abrasive black metal riffing as heard on the title track with a few interesting arrangements thrown in to keep the listener hooked. The main highlight for me personally is when Necrolytic Goat Converter strays from the established paths to explore ideas that are not so common. Be it the foot stomping rock rhythm of The Dark Within, the doom-like trance of Seraphim or the acoustic-psychedelic blend at the end of Eternal Winter (The Still), each track manages to bring something unique to the table.
In an ocean of bands playing similar styles, Necrolytic Goat Converter is a refreshing find. Though elements in ‘Isolated Evolution’ are familiar, it is the heart and emotion behind the compositions that gets one hooked. This is without a doubt, an excellent debut and one that I would recommend to any fan of the black metal style. ~Shrivatsan R.
