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Ever since Suicide Silence publicly shat on the subgenre from a great height last year, deathcore has been under more scrutiny than ever for being overdone and stale. But sometimes people like their creature (dis)comforts. Cabalhave assembled an arsenal of roaring vocals, sub drops and stabbing guitars to set up a safe space of barbarity. It’s hellacious, it’s heavy, and it’s recognisable crowd-killing fodder. Never straying into no man’s land, Mark Of Rot is a constant barrage of hate that leaves you numb, yet ready for more. Embracing the techier side of instrumentation, the chaos is orchestrated and there’s a lot for fans of the complex to snap their necks to, while still windmilling like a hairy ceiling fan. In short, if you’re a deathcore fan, you’re going to like what Cabal have to offer, but it’s not reinventing any circlepits.

Luke Morton joined Metal Hammer as Online Editor in 2014, having previously worked as News Editor at popular (but now sadly defunct) alternative lifestyle magazine, Front. As well as helming the Metal Hammer website for the four years that followed, Luke also helped relaunch the Metal Hammer podcast in early 2018, producing, scripting and presenting the relaunched show during its early days. He also wrote regular features for the magazine, including a 2018 cover feature for his very favourite band in the world, Slipknot, discussing their turbulent 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.

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