REVIEW: Restricted (US) – Forensic Testing [EP/2025]
Artist: Restricted (US)
Album: Forensic Testing – EP
Lets take a second to talk about the deathcore revival. On a surface level, it’s awesome to see bands filled with young people making the same music that got me excited about heavy music when I was…well, a young person. Who doesn’t love blast beats, breakdowns and the occasional romp with some underproduced, hyper-aggressive heaviness, right? Lets take it further though; while most of the newest group of “revival” (usually in reference to MySpace deathcore revival) acts are near-uniformly entertaining, a much smaller fraction of them are truly good. It doesn’t take a lot to channel the sound of yester-decade’s deathcore juggernauts—its a lot harder to take the sound and aesthetic from the mid 2000s and successfully create a record that channels the projected growth and development of that sound over the decade-and-a-half of time that has since passed. Successfully doing that sound is why bands like PSYCHO-FRAME, Tracheotomy, Rev3rent—and now Restricted—are recognized as a cut above the standard deathcore revival fare. On Forensic Testing, Restricted’s debut EP, this young but incredibly talented group demonstrate remarkable prowess in crafting inventive, intense music. From barbaric slams to eviscerating riffs and robust breakdowns, Forensic Testing has it all and then some—without feeling like a copy-paste iteration of the 2000s greatest hits.
There isn’t a dull second to be found on Forensic Testing, with every element of Restricted’s approach to deathcore. “Resurrection of Juliet” is host to salvos of jarring percussion that oscillate from skin-rending blast beats to explosive fills that serve as the jumping off point for low, rumbling bass and gritty chugs. Lead single “This Tear Gas Ain’t Shit” is another outstanding example of strong percussion leading the charge within Restricted’s dynamic, serving as a solid foundation for colossal fretwork to build towering soundscapes. Closing track “Forensic Testing” boasts more atmosphere, taking the chilling aesthetic from the record’s artwork and transfiguring it into a sinister sonic experience. “Ain’t No Bitch” is similar in the sense that we see Restricted blending a tasteful use of samples alongside strong songwriting, blistering percussion and overwhelming heaviness that captures the tongue-in-cheek poise and fun from “old school” deathcore while giving it a stylistic facelift and an intangible sense of rejuvenation.
In the same sense, Forensic Testing is neither a technical or progressive release—and it doesn’t aim to be. Now, that doesn’t mean it slacks instrumentally; it is fast, well-composed and as intricate as it needs to be, but the sole focus Restricted hone in on is that of crafting pure sonic barbarism. Its production is tastefully minimalistic, using booming 808s and samples where needed, but gritty and visceral throughout its duration. The guitars a tremendous, low and rumbling—the percussion is fast, flashy and punchy, and the bass ties everything together in a stunning concoction. They serve a stunning testament to the notion that a release can be unique and inventive without being a dense stew of technicality or overproduced, sterile metal.
In keeping with the band’s instrumental approach, Restricted’s vocal dynamic is one of immolating fury. Forensic Testing is home to bellows, screeches, screams, shouts and gnarled pig squeals—giving fans of “OG” deathcore everything they could want and more. Whats more is that Restricted employ a solid roster of ruthless guest vocalists throughout Forensic Testing to add even more dynamism and intensity. A personal favorite is Thus Spoke Zarathustra’s Andy Reynolds on “This Tear Gas Ain’t Shit”—but truthfully any song featuring a guest is done superbly in a fashion where Restricted make good use of a guest without relying on them to carry the song.
Forensic Testing is an outstanding EP—and when one considers it to be Restricted’s debut, it becomes all the stronger. The band are firing on all cylinders, creating a devastating testament to deathcore that draws influence beyond nostalgia and brings in elements from hardcore, brutal death metal and more in a manner befitting the throwback deathcore wave than many of Restricted’s peers. Forensic Testing is an eerie, ominous and egregiously heavy release that sets a high bar for Restricted’s future—one they’ll likely have no trouble vaulting.
9/10
For Fans Of: Disfigured, Tracheotomy, Yeet Cleaver
By: Connor Welsh
