I’ve always said that the dark woodlands found in the northeast can create some of the best death metal these days and I’m still finding bands that prove my point. Coming from the mountains of Vermont is Rotting in the Chapel, a new project by Matt Cronin (Split In Half).
Rotting in the Chapel was conceived by Matt because of his desire to write and record the kind of death metal he grew up on but with his own modern twist. Having handled vocal duties previously he wanted to have a project whose sound was crafted by his own hands as he handles both vocals and guitars on this project. The resulting sound is unmistakably dialed right into the time period he was looking for: early '90s death metal bands we all know and love.
With production choices akin to a revamped version of Suffocation’s Pierced From Within, thunderous riffs and blindsiding tempo changes Matt has already crafted 5 tracks that pay homage to death metal's roots while also setting a good template for the future.
Speaking with Matt on his impetus to start Rotting in the Chapel, he stated: “After only having been a singer in a band up to this point, I wanted to grab the guitar myself and put the songs together and wear the influences on my sleeve. Many of the old-school death metal usuals - Cannibal Corpse (Chris Barnes-era), Severe Torture, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Death, Deicide. The list goes on.”
What makes Rotting in the Chapel such a standout amongst all the bands slapping the OSDM tagline to their music is that their appreciation can actually be heard in the music. It’s not just production choices and gear that make a band sound like our favorites but also in the structure of the songs themselves.
Upon my first listen to Rotting in the Chapel's self-titled debut EP, my initial thought was how distinct every moment was, each instrument has its standout moment in each song and the riffs, breakdowns and tempo changes are unforgettable. Too many death metal bands try far too hard to make their band sound heavy and terrifying, Rotting in the Chapel just wants you to shut up and listen.
The first track, which they released as a single back in April, “Stain Glass Sarcophagus,” throws all cards on the table within the first minute, switching between heaving riffs, speedy blast beats and culminating into some groove metal inspired guitar riffs. Matt’s able to show his vocal range off by mixing deep throaty growls and apocalyptic screams over the grinding music and it makes the entire vibe of the track eerie and menacing.
When I asked Matt about what kind of atmosphere he was going for with this band he admitted: “Nothing wildly particular, but I wanted to have a very eerie, scary feeling invoked without it being over the top shock-value gore, nudity, etc., like a good, classic horror movie.”
As of right now the band only features Matt on lead guitar and vocals and Willow Ringey on bass duties while the drums for the EP were handled by the producer Kenny Flores. Though they don’t have a full lineup just yet they are planning on taking this project further than just recordings.
“Willow and I are putting together a live band for this project so we can start getting some shows ripping. I think the material is heavy, fun and stands on its own, so I want to get out there and bring it to an audience. This project was initially formed as a bedroom project, but I quickly fell in love with the songs and writing material for it, so I'm going all in,” Matt explained about the future of the project.
Despite coming together quickly Matt’s vision is highly focused as his lyrics tend to focus on topics currently affecting our society, with particular attention being paid to religion and politics.
“A lot of the lyrical influence for this project came from my frustrations with religion, and how much of a 'comeback' hateful forms of Christianity and such seem to be having. "The freedom to express yourself and your faith is great, but the hypocrisies often spouted from these camps are where my frustrations stem from."
His statement about hateful forms of Christianity caught my attention not just for its timely nature but how true it seems to be in the last few months. There appears to be an emboldening of oppressive groups not just in religion but as a whole, there’s been far more pushback on the progressive social movements.
While Rotting in the Chapel doesn’t have any shows lined up just yet Matt and Willow are already confident in their songwriting and playing, enough to want to perform with some of their local friends and maybe even take it on the road at some point. “If the demand is there, I'd love to tour the material some,” Matt remarked.
For now, be sure to listen to Rotting in the Chapel’s debut EP, five crushing death metal tracks that display a keen appreciation of the OSDM sound but also know how to make it work for a modern audience. The band is also getting some physical releases for the EP soon so check out their social media for any merch announcements.
Rotting in the Chapel would like to shoutout: our producer Kenny for making this shit sound crazy and being honorary 3rd member of the band, Willow for ripping the bass and always being down for the cause, my guitar teacher Brandon Mullen for bringing the best out of my performance and skill set, and all of Vermont metal and hardcore.
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Rotting in the Chapel on social media: Instagram
