Goatest was born out of an unexpected collaboration.
If someone had told me one day that the Finns Keijo “Kaos” Niinimaa (Rotten Sound, Goatburner) and Jaakko “Spider” Forsman (Ratface, Goatburner) would team up with Thiago “Barata” (Test) and João Kombi (Test), I wouldn’t have believed it. Yet the result is an album, simply titled Goatest, set to be released on Time To Kill Records.
It comes as no surprise when you take even a quick look at the lineup, the result can only be Grindcore. And even though the opening track, Life in Hell, veers toward Death/Grind when the sample kicks in, it doesn’t take long before we’re trampled by the blast beats, abrasive riffs, and uncompromising vocals. The album runs just over thirty minutes, and every single one of them is dedicated to pure violence – sometimes even a bit unhealthy – and while there are a few slower passages, such as in Unseen Powers and The Fire, which almost veer toward numbing Sludge, no one will be surprised to see the rhythm section ignite once again and happily beat us down. The only “breaks” come in the form of samples or intros that last a bit, like Beyond, Slow Burn, or Slowly and Steadily, but short tracks like Next Level and Chaotic Events are there to let the band regain its momentum in no time. It’s worth noting, however, the final one-two punch: the grueling and highly dissonant Endless gives way to the catchy The Horror – which easily makes me envy the lucky few who’ll get to see the band in action on their upcoming tour across Europe next year!
Born from a seamless intercontinental collaboration, Goatest embodies Grindcore’s very essence, that raw, violent style that lets us let loose. Goatest delivers a great studio experience, but it’s truly meant to come alive on stage, much to the delight of your ears!
80/100