review: Bear Mace -- old-school death metal from the United States

Bear Mace

Charred Field of Slaughter

14 August 2020

The U.S. band did early recordings in 2013 and 2014, and by 2017 they had their debut album of old-school death metal, which this publication missed. It is available at Bandcamp. It’s a solid work, but in 2020 the second album seems to hit better and more instantaneously. There’s a good feeling about it right away. Could it be that the production is better? Yet, it is doubtful that the sound quality alone explains the good vibes. The songwriting seems a bit more urgent, and more memorable, leading to more immediate results for the listeners looking for classic-style death. The band and production team have assembled more tightly all the pieces of the puzzle and it shows.

Part of the instant appeal is that it is rock-based. For instance, if the listener hears the guitar work, the riffs, one hears the traditional heavy metal and thrash basis. Some of the melodic soloing certainly is not miles away from heavy/thrash metal. Now imagine, a heavier, chunkier, more muscular guitar crunch, and we are in business with Bear Mace: the heavy yet appealing guitar work; the orientation towards songs (not individual showmanship); a little bit of melody; and ferocious, super gruff, enunciated growling. The devoted fans will hear the influences, like Death and Bolt Thrower, and the general love and respect of the band for classic death metal.

Charred Field Of Slaughter by Bear Mace