Inhuman Condition- Mind Trap
Reviewed By: Jon Santitoro
Review Score: 9
Since the infancy of Death Metal in the 1980’s, the state of Florida has been synonymous with both the scene and the sound of what is perhaps Rock music’s hardest (and most notorious) edge. In that regard, little has changed since bands began flocking to Morrisound Studios to record in the early 90’s, and many of the bands and musicians who pioneered the genre in those days are still active today. Indeed, some are writing and recording some of the best music of their respective careers nearly 40 years after the first wave of Death Metal and Grindcore bands hammered their way into the minds of metalheads across the globe.
Among the Death Metal veterans still active from those early years is iconic bassist Terry Butler (Death, Obituary, Massacre, Six Feet Under), whose latest project, Inhuman Condition, is set to carry the flag of musical extremity into the next generation. Spearheaded by charismatic front man Jeramie Kling (vocals, drums) and rounded out by six-string sorcerer Taylor Nordberg (of Deicide fame), Inhuman Condition are set to release their third full-length album, Mind Trap.
On the surface, Mind Trap would appear to simply follow in the footsteps Florida’s rich Death Metal history; a raw, no-frills, blue collar album devoid of any of the superfluous progressive elements that have managed to sneak into the genre over the years. But at deeper dive into the tracks within reveal a cohesiveness and stomping, relentless groove that is unique to the band’s style, and essential to their high octane live set.
The opening track, ‘Severely Lifeless’ (which is also the first single from Mind Trap) is a sort of stop-and-go affair which breaks into the band’s trademark riffing about midway through it’s three and a half minute duration. It’s an interesting choice for an opener in that the early off-kilter vibe is a somewhat uncharacteristic twist for a band known for it’s riff-heavy groove.
Inhuman Condition really hit their stride with the second track, titled ‘Face For Later’. This particular song is vintage Inhuman Condition; catchy and memorable. Some songs are just made to be played live, and ‘Face For Later’ fits the bill to a tee. An excellent choice by the band as the album’s second single; it’s an up tempo crusher that will undoubtedly cause circle pits in every venue the band plays when they next hit the road. There’s no reason to believe ‘Face For Later’ won’t be a fan favorite for years to come.
After several spins of Mind Trap, I’ve become particularly fond of ‘The Betterment Plan’; a mid-paced bulldozer with some up tempo spots and an infectiously catchy groove that gets the listener’s head banging almost subconsciously. ‘The Betterment Plan’ is a triumphant throwback to the glory days of Florida Death Metal that old-school metalheads will no doubt enjoy.
The following track, titled ‘Mind-Tool-Weapon’, is an attention grabbing tune with a bouncing rhythm and stellar guitar work from Nordberg that make this one a standout. His lead break midway through, while short, hits the mark and perfectly fits the context of this tightly focused rager.
‘Recollections of the Future’ is the longest track of Mind Trap, clocking in at a mere four minutes, two seconds; an instant indication of the band’s tendency to lean towards shorter, more concise song structure. This is by no means a shortcoming. But rather, the strategy effectively serves to hold the listener’s attention throughout the course of the album. The proverbial “all killer, no filler” approach to songwriting suits Inhuman Condition well, both in their albums and in their uncompromising live set. ‘Recollections of the Future’ is also unique to Mind Trap in that it’s the only track on the album to start with a somewhat melodic intro.
Mind Trap ends with ‘Science of Discontent’, a thunderous closer with Kling’s rumbling drum work featured prominently in the mix. As per the band’s modus operandi, Taylor’s lead is short but soaring and the riffing is catchy as hell. While not necessarily breaking any new ground, ‘Science of Discontent’ has the hooks to keep the listener engrossed and the live audience raging in the pit.
Overall, Mind Trap is an excellent album for what it is; a no-nonsense sledgehammer free from unnecessary filler and clean vocals. Punishing tracks like ‘Godship’, ‘Chaos Engine’ and ‘Obscurer’ round out this high energy monster of a release with a sense of purpose and sinister intent. Once again, Jeramie, Terry, and Taylor have outdone themselves and put out one of the best Death Metal albums of the year. I’m very much looking forward to hearing the new material live. The proud legacy of Florida Death Metal lives on with Inhuman Condition and Mind Trap.
Mind Trap is set for release on 6/27/25 via Listenable Insanity Records