It is possibly a ridiculous statement to make at the start of the year, but if you are looking for the most ferocious album of 2020 we might have already found it. Regardless of what genre or subgenre you follow, be it hardcore, death metal, grind etc you will struggle to find a more extremely heavy sound than the sonic tidal wave of noise that Leeched make. The three-piece from Manchester are capable of making more noise than a battalion of musicians and have condensed more savage, raw emotion into this album than most bands can manage in a lifetime. Starting with a harsh metallic voice the album suddenly slams headlong into a violent rush of bludgeoning noise. With ten tracks at thirty six minutes To Dull The Blades Of Your Abuse doesn’t waste a second of time. From the outset you are caught up in a maelstrom of rage, fear and despair that is thrown at point blank range.
At times the album seems to be hideously personal; it’s like being inside someone’s head whilst they are having a full psychotic breakdown. Listening to this feels like witnessing the band having had their top layers of skin removed and all that is left is a bloody bundle of raw nerve tissue. The album makes you want to smash, tear and scream as if you are caught by the throat, forced to see what Leeched are suffering. If they can capture this live then they are truly capable of taking any title.
To Dull The Blades Of Your Abuse is a terrifying album and a stunning demonstration of what the UK underground scene is producing right now. A masterclass in extreme sound this album is a must for fans of anything heavy and raw.
To Dull The Blades Of Your Abuse is released 31st January via Prosthetic Records and can be purchased here.
Words: Nathan Tyler
