FATAL PECK-The Peckability of Das Beak Mini-Album (Preview)

After forming what were arguably Scotland's finest metal and industrial rock bands, vocalist “par excellence” Serotonin presents us with his latest band, Fatal Peck, and what amounts to a veritable blitz of 7 of the most blistering slices of hardcore metal that you'll encounter anywhere, but what makes these stand out from the rest is just how incredibly catchy it all is – rarely has a band this heavy, this fast and this intense ever been so goddamned memorable.
Things kick off with “My Time Is Now” and the Fatal Peck stamp is immediately imprinted on your consciousness as lightning speed drumming, supercharged guitar riffing, a monster undercurrent of bass guitar and searing heat leads that strike out in whiplash fashion rampage through your skull and take no prisoners. Above this maelstrom, Serotonin's vocal is hi-end evil, equally fast, equally menacing and wrung out before then he launches into the chorus with that immense sounding operatic metal vocal strength of which only he is capable of delivering. This then sets the flavour for the song as it rages with burning intensity, veers between the anguished menace of the verses and the towering strength of the chorus hooks, even providing a number of heated electric guitar breaks along the way, never once letting up the pace and yet somehow giving us dynamics at the same time. It's wild rollercoaster of massive metal mayhem and you love every second of it. “Destiny Awaits” follows suit, this time with a more dynamic intro, still the same sort of pace, sound and arrangement, the sea of evil verses leading into a soaring hook of a chorus and all the time this barrage of guitars, drums and bass coming at you like a hurricane. Here, the choruses are aided and abetted by added harmony vocals and the lead electric guitar has more upfront presence above the unfathomable hardcore depths of the guitar riffing and the punishing pace of the rhythm section as it all climbs and drives to jaw-dropping delight, again, thunderous and memorable. “Carpe Diem” maintains the pace and intensity, this time a repeated hook-line giving more room for the band to strike out as the treated squall of vocal comes in between some electrifying riffing and red hot guitar licks as the bass thunders up and down the scale while the drums power out. Amazingly, although for only a few seconds, halfway through, they change shape and let up the pace, an effect that jolts you out of your hypnotic state as the band take off into a whole new guitar-driven universe, then the whole song returns and blazes its trail to the end. “This Is Why I Can” continues the intensity this time with a more swinging arrangement as the clipped vocal phrases drive back and forth with a heady, heavy bass and rhythm guitar riff, a trio that really sticks in your head as the drums continue to be this almighty powerhouse that fuels the machine. Once more, the sound is huge, the density infinite and this time, the arrangement is even more varied and dynamic within its framework, allowing changes of pace and guitar breaks to come and go, again only briefly, but giving that extra ingredient to the deliciously dark recipe as that rage of a vocal provides the intensity throughout.
“The Fire Inside” is, if anything, even darker, as the hi-end howl of the vocal vies with brief death metal vocal growls as the band keep up the superheated pace and this blistering bulldozer of a track once more assaults your senses in a way that's absolutely and totally addictive. It's weird that such heavy, fast and ultra-intense songs could end up being the sort of thing that you not only enjoy very second of hearing, but end up wanting to repeat the experience again and again and again. Here the bass moves upfront and this monstrous display of muscular bass work fights alongside the guitars and powerhouse drumming before the “normal” vocal portion of the song provides the final nail in the coffin. “Proclamation” starts by repeating the title over and over above the roar of the guitars, this time the riffing more distinct and separated before the whole thing turns into another catchy barrage of vocal menace, riffing, drumming and scorching vocal choruses.
By now, you'd think that there was no way that they could top any of what they've poured forth so far, but then they only go an do exactly that with the awesome “Raise The Bar” as Serotonin announces that very fact at the beginning of the song, and, totally unexpected, the band take the pace down to that of a “normal” heavy metal song, lose none of the intensity, provide memorable guitar riffs that most metal band would kill to produce, deep bass, solid drumming and the anguish of the verses leading into this incredibly addictive hook of a chorus as the whole thing drives forward into a searing heat lead guitar break and more huge multi-tracked vocal choruses on what has to be one of the best metal anthems produced in absolutely ages, the perfect end to a perfect metal mini-album.

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