Nefas - Promo 2006 (self-released, 2006)

 

 

Brutal death metal in the vein of Nile and Suffocation, with some references to Deeds of Flesh, is what the Italians are fervently indulging in this anything but digestible demo-sampler. Everything is here: discordant harmonics, staccato riffing, a tireless rhythm section and, of course, subsonic vocal attacks. Deliberately chaotic in delivery, Nefas are not the first of their ilk. As such, although the lads here are convincing with regards to their technical prowess, they fall short in producing something even remotely original. There are some interesting ideas, but they become buried after the continuous surge of aberrant musicianship. Production is somewhat weak, so it leaves room for improvement in their upcoming album. A quite interesting release primarily intended for brutal death metal fetishists.

Contact: http://www.nefas.it

(originally written for Chronicles of Chaos - 20/6/2006)

Soulless / Exsecrator - Inheritance of the Wicked Empire (Eyes of the Dead Productions, 2005)

 

This split is like a well-wrapped gift in the shape of a football: the packaging is attractive, but you know exactly what you're going to get. This is mostly the case with this interesting release; from the first strummed chords, the music follows its predictably set path with the drummers from both bands assuming the role of a pneumatic drill and contentedly blasting away. The split comprises of two individual releases: Exsecrator's demo Vehemence of Human Displeasure and Soulless' EP Peri Psyches. From the two, the Italian Exsecrator seems to be the most promising. Although suffering from a murky production, their three tracks show a slightly more capable outcome than their Polish counterparts. The songs in question utilize a good amount of mid-tempo, chugging Incantation-esque parts and faster blast attacks along with truly cloacal vocals, leaving a satisfying aftertaste when they hit the finish mark. With a little more work on the drums so as to make them more innovative and less of a background haze of beats, this could well stand out as a coherent and focused slab of brutal death metal without falling into the trap of being monotonous and stale.

Soulless, on the other hand, although satisfactory production-wise, seem to be on a testosterone-fuelled frenzy. There are parts where the music comes out as a mish-mash of riffs, meshed together with unneeded guitar blabbering, becoming tedious and tiring to the ear. Thankfully this does not make for the majority of this side of the musical dish, but nonetheless it does inhibit the band's overall stature. Malevolent Creation have the lion's share in terms of musical influences, with the Floridian legend having its say on the blasting, thrashy parts many a time. Behemoth's illustrious riff-fuelled aggression also peaks its nose during the band's better moments.

So the split, as transpired, will find its place among its dedicated fan-base; the rest have already gone off to the next review by now.

Contact: http://eyesofthedead.cjb.net

(originally written for Chronicles of Chaos - 21/11/2005)

Hour Of Penance - Pageantry For Martyrs (Xtreem Music, 2005)

 

It seems like the Italian underground has yet another band to offer to the death metal scene from its stout abode. ‘Hour of Penance’ were formed in 1999 with their first demo release seeing the light of day a year later. ‘Pageantry for Martyrs’ is the band’s sophomore release, two years after their debut ‘Disturbance,’ and still unavoidably derivative in nature. Amidst the throbbing palm-muted guitar passages and the pummeling drums that do well in convincing us of the band’s stature, this welcome slab of brutality smells of US death metal from a mile away. Sporting relentless time changes, tight drum fills, absolutely cloacal vocals and yes even some of Cannibal Corpse’s swirling riffage (“Far Beyond Humiliation” just reeks of the Corpse’s roll and churn), ‘Pageantry for Martyrs’ is pretty much textbook brutal death metal, meandering somewhere between Decrepit Birth and Disgorge minus the technical over-indulgences of the former; even Nile seem to have their say, especially on ‘End of relief’s mid-tempo chug. An invigorating upshoot on the death metal life-line of recent years and yet an album that still won’t do much for someone whose brutal US death metal isn’t the order of the day. It does make one think whether brutal death metal is on the wane or indeed enjoying a resurgence as of late, seeing that there are a number of bands that are still stubbornly blasting away like there’s no tomorrow. Oh and watch out for a hidden small song near the end of the final track; looks like these guys love their Hentai… 

(originally written for Tartarean Desire - early 2006)

Vile - The New Age Of Chaos (Listenable Records, 2005)

Once again, reaching deep into the Florida death metal goodie-bag, Vile have cranked up yet another quality release, with this being their third album, still sustaining their above-par output they’ve pulled off throughout the years. With subtle political references from the lyrical side, this could be seen as a concept album of sorts, unsurprisingly highlighting the brutality of war as seen recently from the whole Iraq conflict. Nevertheless, the music is the important thing here. Although not musically disparate from previous releases, the outfit has successfully managed to add a few more strings to its bow with a number of interesting black metal-inspired tremolo passages (which at times digress considerably although not alarmingly from the album’s death metal hub), a few well-placed Morbid Angelesque melodic solo out-spurts and of course the best production they’ve had yet. Newcomer Gibson (Exodus), does an excellently ear-catching job on the bass lines; whilst Urteaga’s visceral vocal delivery fits the bill just fine. As such, this is not your straight-cut piece of brutal death, since it is an album comprising of both brutality and more thought-out slower paced passages in good measure which give out a distinct musical punch. Unrelenting, yet definitely not elementary in its delivery, this is definitely one of the better death metal releases for 2005.

(originally written for Tartarean Desire - 2005?)