While many of their riffs are clearly inspired by the early years of Carcass, Sick Sinus Syndrome introduce variety to this often tired formula by taking an aggressive approach comparable to Terrorizer, Repulsion, or Blood. In the grindcore tradition, most songs on this album consist of two themes juxtaposed, frequently a rising and falling action, sometimes presaged by an introduction.

Particularly noteworthy moments arrive when, like Carcass, the band utilize melodies eerily reminiscent of popular music, creating a mocking feel within the context of the surrounding violence, indicating a decay under the surface of control which society projects. Production follows current standards in comparison to fellow luminaries of this style, and while this is a welcome change in some ways to the almost impenetrable wall of noise of a band like Dead Infection, some may miss the ambience of the bass-heavy shuddering of an album such as Reek of Putrefaction.

In total, Rotten to the Core makes a valiant effort in a microgenre often imitated to death. It may not say much that is new, but it does give some hope that actual extremity is still practiced in some corners of the underground. For goregrind fanatics, this is one of the better entries to hit the genre in the face with an eviscerated organ in recent memory.

Tags: Goregrind, Grindcore, sick sinus syndrome