Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Inhuman Condition | Mind Trap | High Roller Records

 

    Inhuman Condition was formed in 2020 by Taylor Nordberg and Jeramie Kling after their departure from Massacre, taking their name from the 1992 EP "Inhuman Condition". With the addition of veteran bassist Terry Butler, the trio established a sound rooted in classic death metal with thrash elements, developed through two full-length releases. Over the past five years, they've refined their identity, focusing on tight compositions and self-sufficient production. "Mind Trap" marks their third full-length release, continuing the group’s do-it-yourself approach with recording, mixing, and mastering handled at their own Smoke & Mirrors Productions studio.

"Mind Trap" is a concentrated and cohesive slab of death/thrash metal that benefits from its controlled approach and streamlined vision. The album delivers compact tracks with sharp transitions and measured aggression, often leaning into rhythmic drive rather than overwhelming speed. The production is direct and punchy, neither raw nor overly compressed, offering a consistent mix that suits the pacing of the material.


Vocals from Jeramie Kling are pitched somewhere between classic Florida death metal and early ‘90s thrash bark, functional and clear in their delivery. The presence of guest appearances from Paul Mazurkiewicz, Jamie Stewart, and Jonas Kjellgren adds texture without distracting from the band’s identity. Taylor Nordberg’s guitar work favors riff-centric songwriting rather than technical flourishes, rooted in mid-tempo punishment with occasional bursts of velocity and dissonance.

The lyrical themes cover dystopian paranoia, human cruelty, and visceral horror without leaning into abstraction. There’s a bleak but grounded tone that matches the music's intent, pairing subject matter with appropriately muscular arrangements. Songs like “Mind | Tool | Weapon” and “Science Of Discontent” show the band’s interest in repetition and phrasing over traditional choruses, contributing to the overall tension.

Despite the genre's limited scope, "Mind Trap" doesn’t feel redundant or overlong. The concise runtime and varied dynamics across tracks help maintain energy throughout. Nothing here is ornate or overly ambitious; the band instead favors structure and repetition to create force and immediacy.

The artwork by Dan Goldsworthy and layout work are in tune with the album’s tone—sinister and visually assertive without drifting into parody. The production by Kling and Nordberg retains a tight grip on all sonic elements, giving the record a self-contained characte2

Score: 8.2


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Inhuman Condition | Mind Trap | High Roller Records

       Inhuman Condition was formed in 2020 by Taylor Nordberg and Jeramie Kling after their departure from Massacre , taking their name fro...