Little Rock’s own Open Kasket burst onto the scene with Trials of Failure, a beatdown death metal behemoth that revels in self-loathing and sonic annihilation. Their debut full-length offering doesn’t tiptoe around its intentions—it’s a bulldozer of caustic riffing, groovy low-end mayhem, and outright aggression. True to their name, Open Kasket exhumes the darkest corners of personal failure and pounds them into the ground with unrelenting brutality.
Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Trials of Failure wastes no time setting the tone with “Ersatz (Sine Die),” a slow-building prelude of ominous, bone-rattling grooves that quickly cascades into the pummeling fury of “No Value.” Tracks like “Bruised Sprainstein” and “Defective” are relentless demolitions of self-worth, each one layered with chunky, down-tuned guitars and snarling vocals.
The band’s collaborative efforts shine with guest appearances that bring extra venom to the table. “Internal Threat” features Stan Liszewski of Terminal Nation, whose guttural roars only amplify the track’s overwhelming hostility. “Chain Whip” sees Bryson Sherick of Backbiter adding his signature vocal chaos, and the album’s penultimate track, “Chemical Death,” welcomes Jackson Edwards of Zashed for a fiery, throat-shredding contribution.
Open Kasket’s lyrical themes—steeped in self-deprecation and existential dread—are as raw as their sound. Tracks like “Should” and “Putrid Existence” delve into the mental and emotional toll of relentless self-criticism, with a sense of catharsis erupting through every breakdown. The album isn’t subtle in its approach; it doesn’t need to be. The sheer force of its riffs and guttural vocals conveys all the raw emotion you could ask for.
The production is suitably gritty, ensuring every groove-laden riff and crushing breakdown hits like a sledgehammer. The bass is thick and menacing, the drums thunderously precise, and the vocals—oscillating between snarls, growls, and hardcore barked refrains—are the perfect guide through this maelstrom of negativity.
While the album doesn’t push many boundaries within the beatdown death metal genre, it doesn’t need to. Trials of Failure is an unapologetically straightforward assault that thrives on its ability to channel rage and despair into pure sonic devastation. Tracks like “Ripped Up” close out the album with a final, stomping statement that leaves no survivors.
For fans of Terminal Nation, Dying Fetus, or Bodybox, Open Kasket delivers a promising debut with Trials of Failure. It’s a call to destruction—both inward and outward—that cements their place in the violent pantheon of beatdown death metal. Subtlety may be anathema, but Open Kasket’s forceful debut ensures you won’t forget their name anytime soon. 
