Emerging from Albuquerque, New Mexico, 'Last House on the Left' is a five-piece death metal band that would even make 'Wes Craven' proud.  It begins with the tale created by Tyler Semyaza that glides atop the atmosphere developed by guitarists Jon Singleton and Jake Lucero, bassist Pat Richey, and drummer Daniel McBride.  Combined together, it is a blend of sheer terror fit for any horror movie to make your skin crawl.  The band took its time on ''Among Flies,'' recording locally at Sixteen Studios from December through July.  ''Among Flies'' was a self-produced effort, but the band left the mixing to Neil Kernon, who has worked with death metal legend 'Cannibal Corpse.'  Adding to the dark atmosphere of the album is the artwork done by comic book artist Simon Bisley.  All elements combined make this a work of horror, and make the weak of heart run and cower.

    ''Among Flies'' wastes no time in developing the atmosphere of horror with the intro track, which contains a persistent clock tick as you await the terror soon approaching much like a horror movie.  The music begins to infiltrate your mind with images of macabre.  Painting the tales of horror is much to the delight of frontman Semyaza, who was quoted saying, "I wanted our band to be like that dark and intense but also each song would have its own story," after being asked why the band took the name 'Last House on the Left' after the 1972 movie.  As far as I am concerned he has exceeded his goal, especially with lyrical epics like the title track 'Among Flies.'  But take nothing away from the guitar or drum work on the album.  Their riffs and beats create the perfect platform for the stories Semyaza belts out.  As if I haven't made the reference to horror films enough, the last track 'Lupus Occasus,' much like an ending of a horror movie, soothes the listener to the resolution yet leaves the air ready for a sequel.

    I can't help but wonder what would happen if they strayed from their horror movie direction.  Yet I can honestly say that nothing about the album is flawed.  They laid out their direction and simply killed it.  The layered vocals can become tedious at times, but are still effective.  Some parts can become droning for short lengths of time, but they add to the atmosphere.

    'Among Flies' is perfect for any fan of horror movies or death metal.  At first listen, you may not pick up on all the ways the album is synonymous with a horror movie.  Give it a few listens, and you will easily pick up on them.  I personally enjoyed the blend of atmosphere and brutal music that 'Last House on the Left' has created.  For those who have yet to pick it up, ''Among Flies'' will make a great Christmas gift for yourself, a good stocking stuffer for another, or a great way to freak out some relatives if you do a white elephant exchange.  Rest assured, be sure to add ''Among Flies'' to your collection.

-James Terry
theinterlude.com

(for the record we don't think we're a grindcore band at all haha)

Last House On The Left - Among Flies
Record Label: Seige of Amida/Ferret Music
Release Date: Nov 11, 2008

Reviewed by André Monnéy

Grindcore is usually a genre that sucks. For one, everything sounds exactly the same; two, you can never understand a word of what the singer is trying to say or if he is even actually talking; and three, the genre has become so contrived from bands trying to be kept within the genre that they've completely ignored the faults of grindcore. Thankfully, Last House On The Left took everything that was wrong with the genre and reinvigorated it with their successful debut, Among Flies. Rather than focusing entirely on the topics of death, vocalist Tyler Semyaza unleashes the artist imagery of mind into brutally graphic lyrics (As I sink my pearly whites into your neck/The flesh it tears/Spurting blood/Your eyes roll back white with fright/As I eat your face). Whether this guy is completely twisted or has just seen too many horror flicks, he lays a foundation of fantasy and violence over mind warping riffs, pounding drums, and reverberating bass lines. Tracks like "Bloodletting in the Sun" and "Among Flies" are sure to resonate well with new fans who explore the many spectrums of metal, while the revisited "Forever Dying", "Some Like To Bleed", and "In the Name of the Wolf" offer much more than just slightly tweaked EP songs. While I would prefer to stray from stating that Among Flies offers "metal for the masses", it does find this quintet showcasing influences of early death metal, speedy black metal, and the extraordinary outburst of progressive metal that are sure to please just about anyone. Last House On The Left are far from the quaint confinements of the typical grindcore band, they have become the staple of the starving genre practically overnight. And now armed with the ferocious Among Flies they are guaranteed to mess up that pretty little wonderland metal has resided in.

Recommended If You Like: Knights of the Abyss, Burning the Masses, At the Throne of Judgement

LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT'S
AMONG FLIES
IN STORES EVERYWHERE

NOVEMBER 11th 2008
via Ferret Music and Siege of Amida Records

MIXED BY NEIL KERNON
(NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEICIDE)

MASTERED BY ALAN DOUCHES
(MASTODON, NILE, RED CHORD)

COVER PAINTED BY SIMON BISLEY!!