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Dyingrace's Pioneering Deathgroove Legacy

Apr 22, 2025

Dyingrace - Only the Determined Path Remains - Review

Introduction

  • Few 90's hardcore bands remain relevant and sound fresh today.
  • Recent trends lean towards death metal/hardcore hybrids.
  • Notable bands in the genre include Creeping Death, Mercy Blow, Disgrace, etc.
  • Japan's Dyingrace was pioneering this trend 20 years earlier with their album Only the Determined Path Remains.

Album Overview

  • Described as a mix of Madball with Possessed riffs and Exhorder-style grooves.
  • Released in 1999, it features a heavy hardcore-style with deathgroove elements.
  • Retains a raw 90s style production.

Musical Elements

  • Drums:
    • Perfect, without triggers or sample replacement.
    • Adds a humanistic feel crucial to the album's vibe.
  • Guitar Tone:
    • Low, nasty, and heavy.
  • Vocals:
    • Throaty roars with a thick Japanese accent.

Song Highlights

  • The first couple of tracks are the standout songs.
  • Track 2:
    • Features mosh-inducing notes.
    • Blends hardcore beatdown with Possessed-style grooves.
  • Track 3: "Beginning of the End"
    • Instrumental; however, feels unfinished without vocals.

Additional Insights

  • Songwriting is phenomenal with a prevalent beatdown aesthetic.
  • Difficult to label as purely hardcore due to the complex guitar work.

Band's Background and Legacy

  • Limited information on the band members' activities post-Dyingrace.
  • Vocalist joined Burden of Despair; guitarist joined Cryptic Revelation.
  • Album praised as a precursor to the deathgroove/hardcore trend.
  • Leaves a legacy as a pioneering album in the genre over two decades before its wide popularity.

Conclusion

  • Dyingrace's album remains a significant contribution to the deathgroove/hardcore genre long before it gained mainstream traction.