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Rating: Sometimes the line between a clone band and a tribute band is very thin; this is the case with the Hungarians Ektomorf, active since 1994 and since then engaged in assimilating and replicating every recipe of the Sepultura-Soulfly duo and any musical formula conceived by Max Cavalera's mind. In my humble opinion, in the case of Ektomorf, we can speak with more certainty of a tribute band, because it is a matter of passion and dedication to the cause of tribal thrash metal-hardcore and not mere imitation.
A cause carried out with enviable pride and consistency despite the strong criticisms that have rained down over the years on the Farkas brothers' group, essentially based on the lack of originality of the proposal. These criticisms, while not unfounded, do not make me personally consider originality a decisive factor for the positivity or otherwise, the enjoyment or otherwise of a musical product.
And Ektomorf are definitely enjoyable; it is primordial music, instinctive, suitable for the mosh, like an ethnical dance from a remote African country, pressing and hammering that grabs you and doesn't let go.
“Destroy” is the band's first album on a major label (Nuclear Blast), and it is a definitive, modern, and determined step forward compared to their early productions (which went fairly unnoticed on the music market), which, still immature, did not manage to express the songwriting potential of Ektomorf, a clear ability to write thrilling tribal anthems, tracks full of groove and furious hardcore shards, all seasoned with a very basic lyrical framework but with strong social and anti-racist connotations.
Just listen to the opening track "I Know Them" (introduced by a gypsy chant) to understand how much Ektomorf love Sepultura and Soulfly, a perfect thrashcore opener composed of a rough production, abrasive guitars, a very percussive rhythm section, an engaging, easy yet effective chorus, but above all a vocal tone that, if you listen to it for the first time, you'll ask yourself "but this band, when did Cavalera form it?"; it's followed closely by a heart-stopping pair, the heavy title track and the anthem "Gypsy" with its irresistible refrain and a musical base cemented by raw but impactful riffs (which also take on a certain nu-metal riffing style); the choruses are definitely the strong point both on the album and live of the band, as evidenced by tracks like "Painful But True", "No Compromise", "You Are My Shelter", and "Everything", as is the norm in such a proposal, the hardcore component cannot be missing and has its expression in the very violent "Only God" and "Tear Apart"; even less fast-paced and more cadenced tracks make their noteworthy appearance, like the distressing "From Far Away" (where the gypsy chants from the opener resurface), the third-world style "AEA", or the beautiful acoustic and instrumental piece "From My Heart". The solos, needless to say, have a typical Kisser style. Besides the Sepultura-Soulfly influences, there are also some (not too veiled) references to early Machine Head.
"Destroy" to the ears of someone not passionate about this branch of metal might seem like just any ordinary disc, but for those who love the sounds derived from Sepultura's teachings, Ektomorf are a real paradise of emotions; this is why I can only give full marks to this album, which I consider the best in their discography.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Know Them (04:38)
I see the world and it's full of hate
Around me hypocrites and I know them
They want to take away my emotions
But I resist
I destroy them
I know them
Great future, safe life, money, abundance
They promise everything but it's bullshit
I'm not a motherfucker ignorant
I will strike
I will fight
They cannot take my life
They cannot stop me
They cannot take my rights
No
They cannot control me
They cannot change me
The cannot repress me
No
Never!!
I know them
I go ahead, never never turn back
Live your fucking life and give me respect
I have my life and it's only mine
I will strike
I will fight
02 Destroy (03:49)
Nice, very nice
That's what I see outside
I can smell this shit
I smell the life
It's rotten inside
Lie, fucking lie
There's no respect, there's no life
They want me to be a fake
On their fake way
They want me to buy
I have my right, I have my life
I have a strength for the fight
I'm sick of them, I don't want more
Destroy!
Why, I ask why?
The people don't care the people so blind
Most of them want just money
Hypocrite world
The future is dark
Now, here and now
I destroy the walls, watch me, I'm free
They can fuck all their shit
I'm free, this is my life
I have my right, I have my life
I have a strength for the fight
I'm sick of them, I don't want more
Destroy!
04 No Compromise (02:51)
Here I am
With thousand bleeding wounds
From the life
Here I am
You never believed in me
But now this is my time
I don't play your game
I know my way
This is my life
No compromise
Here comes the time
The hurricane of my fate
With strength and anger
Break down all the negative shit
I don't play your game
I know my way
This is my life
NO COMPROMISE
05 Everything (03:08)
Now I'm far from everything
Now I'm far from nothing
Now I'm far from me
Now I'm far from you
Now I don't feel hate
Now I only blame
I only blame myself
'cause I followed you everywhere
you're a piece of shit
you don't know the shame
but one day motherfucker you will get back everything
you exploited my helplessness
you exploited my weekness
you exploited my love
you exploited my trust
now we are in the end
now we are face to face
in your eyes so much hate
because you fucking afraid
you're piece of shit
you don't know the shame
but one day motherfucker
you will get back everything
06 From Far Away (04:49)
I come from nothing
You come from nothing
I come from nothing
You come from nothing
You com from nothing
But we are more than nothing
We are not nobodies
I come from nothing
I come from nothing
You come from nothing
You come from nothing
But we are more than nothing
We are not nobodies
07 Painful but True (05:05)
I say no true friendship
I say no
'cause everybody want just the fucking money
I hate this world
Painful but true
Painful but true
Painful but true
Painful but true
Here comes the pain!
Here comes my rage!
I say no true friendship
I say no
'cause everybody want just the fucking money
I hate this world
I say no more trust
No anymore
I'm sick and tired from the disappointment
So I say no more
Painful but true
Painful but true
Painful but true
Painful but true
Here comes the pain!
Here comes my rage!
09 You Are My Shelter (05:00)
I watch the sky and it's turning to grey
My emotions are like a storm deep inside me
I don't want to feel, but it's so fucking real
This shit is back again and it's killing me
I want to tell you, but I can not explain
In my words selfish, uncontrollable rage
I feel the fear, I feel the hate
And I feel I am going insane
Look at me, I hit the bottom
I'm out of my mind, I lose the control
Give me something, the pain is killing me
You are my shelter, you are my shelter
I'm going through changes, I don't understand
It came from nothing and now I feel it everywhere
I'm in secure, im going down
I feel so lonely in this deep and dark hole
Give me your hand, I need your help
Even if I hurt you, please try to forgive me
Now I'm not myself, now I'm someone else
Show me the way, I want to come back
Look at me, I hit the bottom
I'm out of my mind, I lose control
Give me something, the pain is killing me
You are my shelter, you are my shelter
10 A.E.A. (05:08)
Aggressive Energy Adrenaline
A.E.A
We bring pure and new power
A.E.A
It's not fake, this is fire
A.E.A
With this music in our blood
A.E.A
We will break down the walls
A.E.A
No black and no white
A.E.A
This is an united fight
A.E.A
It's on the ground and in the sky
A.E.A
Positive message for your mind
A.E.A
We don't need the wannabes
A.E.A
We destroy the enemies
A.E.A
With faith in our heart, believe together
A.E.A
Ektomorf forever
This is our way they cannot take it away
This is our way you cannot take it away
This is our way no one can take it away
12 Tear Apart (01:51)
Blood
Filth
Corruption
Poverty
No solution
Can you see?
Can you see?
It comes around
Stress
Depression
Rage
Pain
Self-destruction
Can you see?
Can you see?
It comes around
Hard work every day for nothing
Other people get easily everything
I'm not envy, I'm just angry
I am angry
I am fucking angry!
Tear apart
Tear apart
Hard work every day for nothing
Other people get easily everything
I'm not envy, I'm just angry
I am angry
I am fucking angry
Tear apart
Tear apart
Inside
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