OUT NOW via Sumerian Records
Words by: dothefknreview
Over the past decade Slaughter To Prevail have emerged from the underground with a tenacity and vision rarely seen in modern extreme metal. What began as a cross-continental collaboration between Russian vocalist Alex Terrible and British guitarist Jack Simmons has evolved into a global powerhouse, now commanding festival main stages, amassing a dedicated international fan base, and confidently pushing the boundaries of deathcore. Their latest album, Grizzly, is both a continuation and elevation of their sound, a bold, unrelenting statement that blends brutality with experimentation.
Opening track Banditos sets the tone immediately with a pummelling groove-laden riff, bolstered by cinematic orchestration that lends an almost theatrical scale to the chaos. A surprise diversion into mariachi-inspired acoustic passages and Spanish-language vocals feels initially jarring, but on repeated listens, this unexpected turn adds depth and intrigue to the track’s otherwise muscular structure.
Russian Grizzly In America draws heavily from the self-titled Slipknot era, particularly in the percussion department. Drummer Evgeny Novikov delivers a thunderous performance, anchoring a song that’s both relentlessly aggressive and rhythmically infectious.
Imdead featuring guest vocals from Ronnie Radke (Falling In Reverse), introduces a nu-metal edge with clean/unclean vocal interplay that elevates the track beyond a typical guest feature. The album’s middle stretch — featuring tracks like Babayka, Viking, and Koschei– leans into Slaughter’s growing interest in ethnic instrumentation and folk-inspired melody, without sacrificing their core heaviness. Viking in particular showcases Terrible’s evolving vocal style, adding rap-scream cadences and spoken word elements with surprising finesse.
One of the album’s standout moments comes with Song 3 (track seven on the listing), a collaboration with Japanese pop-metal icons Babymetal. Far from a novelty, the track succeeds in fusing bright, melodic vocals with punishing breakdowns, highlighting Slaughter To Prevail’s ability to balance extremes without diluting their sound.
Tracks like Lift That Shit and Conflict return to the band’s more primal instincts, offering no-frills aggression, devastating percussion, and unforgiving riff work. Meanwhile, Behelit and Rodina introduce a cinematic dimension, layering clean vocals and orchestrations in ways that suggest the band is exploring new creative territory.
Closing with the Metalcore tinged 1984, Grizzly ends on a note of controlled chaos, featuring a chorus that is surprisingly hook-driven and a sinister acoustic bridge that reinforces the band’s versatility.
With Grizzly, Slaughter To Prevail prove they’re not simply riding the deathcore wave, they’re actively shaping it. It’s a bold, diverse, and meticulously crafted record that positions them as one of the genre’s true innovators.
A triumph in extremity and ambition.
