NERVE SAW is a new band featuring ex – HOODED MENACE bassist and live vocalist Markus Makkonen. His latest project doesn’t deal in sluggish Doom / Death, but old school punked up blackened crusty Death Metal, which is full of buzzsaw riffing and furiously fervent tempos with his vocals being of the savage screamed variety, which are reminiscent of Tompa Lindberg (AT THE GATES, DISFEAR etc in places) and also remind me of Mikka Luttinen (IMPALED NAZARENE), a vicious mix of both vocalists. The opening song kicks in with a MOTÖRHEAD charged swagger and the following track kicks in with a dirty dirgy bassline with the buzzsaw riffing ripping through the speakers. It isn’t long until they pick up the pace again and punked up tempos lead the charge launching into double kick fuelled ferosity and there is a definite Swedish feel to this song aptly titled ‘Life Goes On… Not’. Track 3 kicks in with another fast and furious riff which has a hooky DARKTHRONE vibe to it before dropping back into the depths of Death evoking early ENTOMBED. The album continues in the same vein throughout with a good mix of tempos being utilised, shifting things down a gear at times before launching back into punked up Death charges. They even inject some morbid melody and harmonious hooks in parts which slither out of the speakers slowly. There is a great sharpness to the production without sounding too clinical and keeping the old school rawness firmly intact, and the whole sound is anchored down with head splitting low end heaviness, with bludgeoning distorted bass lines that bulldoze their way through these caustic compositions and the drums are devastatingly pounding and pummelling. A gloriously grimey and grotesque debut from these Finnish Death fiends. Imagine a malevolent and morbid mix of crusty Motörcharged chainsawing, punked up Swedish Death Metal and “The Cult Is Alive” era DARKTHRONE with a big pinch of the punkier side of IMPALED NAZARENE thrown in for good measure and you have the sound of NERVE SAW. More rusty sharp hooks than a Finnish fisherman! Pace ‘Til Death! More information at: www.facebook.com/nerve-saw-101834354696011, www.facebook.com/testimonyrecords