After three impressive albums in the form of 2000’s Mutilated In Minutes, 2003’s Only Tools And Corpses and 2005’s A New Dawn For The Dead, numerous line-up changes and a continual change in musical direction over their decade long existence, UK extreme metal act Gorerotted decided a change of name was called for, and settled for the shortened moniker of The Rotted.

While there will no doubt be some controversy over the band’s change of name, in the end it really doesn’t matter one bit. Because ultimately, the five-piece act’s (who now comprise of growling vocalist Ben McCrow, guitarists Tim Carley and John Pyres, bassist/screaming vocalist Phil Wilson and drummer Nate Gould) fourth full-length effort Get Dead Or Die Trying is again another triumphant effort.

The opening track “Nothin’ But A Nosebleed” is nothing short of devastating. Mixing together grindcore, thrash and death metal, The Rotten really have found the balance of all their various influences, without losing touch of their efforts as Gorerotted. And while the gore component has all but gone, the lyrical efforts here are no less brutal in spite of their basis on everyday events.

Opting for a slower and thrashier groove, “The Howling” is cleverly punctuated with some great screamed vocals in the chorus and some fast paced grind sections, while the catchy “A Return To Insolence” will no doubt surprise many with its emphasis on atmospheric passages and reliance on thick grooves.

“Kissing You With My Fists” and the title track “Get Dead Or Die Trying” are definitely two of the album’s stand out cuts with their huge grinding upfront riffs and somewhat progressive death metal feel, while the stunning instrumental “A Brief Moment Of Regret” and the haunting closer “28 Days Later” unveil a completely different side of the band.

Elsewhere, tracks such as “Angel Of Meth,” “The Body Tree,” the humorously titled “It’s Like There’s A Party In My Mouth (And Everyone’s Being Sick)” and “Fear And Loathing In Old London Town” pretty much resemble the formula laid down by the opener, and as you would expect and annihilate everything in their path.

Given the changes Gorerotted have gone through the last ten years, it doesn’t really surprise me that the band decided to start afresh under a new name. But the great thing is that even though there’s been a change of name and sound for the band, Get Dead Or Die Trying still has everything you would expect from the band, and is a truly worthy follow up to Gorerotted’s highly regarded A New Dawn For The Dead.

www.myspace.com/therotted