EP Review: Extrinsic – Withered Soul (Self Released)

United States death metal band, Extrinsic release their debut record, Withered Soul, independently on the 15th of February.

Extrinsic is the death metal project of Shar Clay, rooted in old-school brutality and shaped by dissonance and atmosphere. Withered Soul, the self-released debut EP arriving February 15th, runs just twenty minutes but delivers relentless speed, tension, and unease. Dissonant elements reminiscent of Ulcerate, Maere, and Gorguts give the music a chaotic yet captivating edge. Lyrically, the EP focuses on societal pressure, institutional aggression, and toxic environments, reflected in its restless pacing and abrasive tonal shifts. Avoiding predictable breakdowns, Extrinsic emphasises precision, density, and atmosphere, making Withered Soul a focused and confrontational debut.

Withered Soul opens with Alone, a sharp and intense track that kicks in immediately, delivering just under three minutes of dark, dissonant death metal. Crunchy riffs, blasting drums, and deep gutturals combine to create a sound that teeters on chaos but remains precise. The screaming solo adds weight, both in unsettling the listener and in breaking up the relentless drum and vocal assault. The traditional death metal influence is clear, but the track never feels derivative.

That tension carries into Isolated, where the dissonance expands, particularly in the hypnotic lead guitar tones. The drums hammer relentlessly yet with precision, featuring some standout rhythmic moments. Another sub-three-minute burst of aggression, it distinguishes itself through clever guitar work and song structure. It’s impressive how the EP stacks these brief tracks back-to-back, each offering its own identity while maintaining the unyielding momentum of death metal.

Abuse is just over a minute long, yet Extrinsic pack it full of unrestrained intensity. It’s a blast of darkness, with deep gutturals sitting within a bed of crushing riffs and relentless drums that hammer home the purpose of Withered Soul.

Hostile turns things up a notch, opening with some of the crunchiest and catchiest beats on the EP. It had my head banging from the first drop. The vocals, while fitting the style, are fairly monotone, but that works in this context. Rather than dominating the songs, they blend with the guitars and drums to become another instrument. The track stands out for its energy and clever arrangement, with particularly impressive drumming.

Denied follows and is another highlight. The dissonance and creeping unease are palpable, with guitars in the early verses twisting and dragging the listener around. When everything comes together, it feels like being pulled toward a precipice and yanked back at the last second. It’s clever writing—what could have been a wall of noise becomes tense, unpredictable, and maybe even a little terrifying.

Extrinsic close the EP with the title track, Withered Soul. At nearly eight minutes, it immediately sets itself apart. The opening is dark and moody, gradually building into a rapid assault of double-kick drums and sinister riffs. The music then drops away, leaving slow-picked guitars and the fuzz of amps to grow a mesmerising, evolving line. Patient and hypnotic at first, it lulls the listener before erupting into brutality that will challenge even the most hardened listener. The solo, woven into the intense riff and drum work, adds dissonance and unease, pushing the track toward madness. As it fades, leaving feedback and a brief movie clip, it’s an intense, expansive closer that lingers long after it ends.

Withered Soul is a clever, tightly constructed debut that flows seamlessly from start to finish. It’s relentless and uncompromising in its heaviness, which may turn off casual listeners, but anyone drawn to darkness, dissonance, and old-school death metal will find plenty to admire. Extrinsic have crafted a debut that is both intelligent and punishing, marking them out as a band worth watching.

Track List:

1 – Alone
2 – Isolated
3 – Abuse
4 – Hostile
5 – Denied
6 – Withered Soul

Extrinsic Links

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