Invultation - Feral Legion

 

Unrelenting. Bitter. Monstrously brutal. These are the words one might use to describe the absolutely monolithic achievement that is Invultation's new album Feral Legion. It's ten tracks of unrelentingly devastating death metal that makes no compromises and enthralls listeners with the ongoing crush of its monochromatic assault. This is death metal done with respect for the old school, there are no melodies or production tricks. Just a bunch of guys, in a room playing unrepentant, unrelenting riffs to craft old school metal of death. 

Of course the full story isn't quite so simple. Tracks like "Burial Leech" are able to take advantage of more droning elements to mesmerize listeners. Meanwhile barn burners like "Human Caltrops" blast forward with Slayer-esque violence in order to leave listeners gasping for air. The nods to classic horror on "Mark of the Fang" only help to pad out a vision for the record that is very aware of the genres history. On top of all of this though are some beautifully vicious and intentionally vile gutturals that will drag the listener down to hell. For those of us enamored with these sorts of gut churning assaults on our sanity then Feral Legion is one of a kind. 

Invultation have found a way to add to the canon of horror obsessed old school death metal on Feral Legion and they do it with aplomb. While their sound is very much old school at heart they are unafarfraid to work in more interesting modern ideas to help keep this an engaging offering. There's something really to be said for death metal that has the benefit of hindisight. It means that Invultation's music is all the more devastating. With high replay value and tons of vicious basement vibes, Feral Legion is the blasphemy you need in your life. 

Pre-order the album!

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/feral-legion

Sepiroth - Condemned To Suffer

There is really something to be said for all caps DEATH METAL. Not a lot of of bands really bring the intensity to merit that designation. Most of them lack the tone or the slamming riffs that really take a band to that next level. It's what makes a band addictive for freaks like us and encourages you to go apeshit in the pit. Fortunately, Sepiroth ARE an all caps death metal band and the intensity that they bring to the table on their latest album, Condemned To Suffer is goddamn masterful. It's exciting to lose yourself in this freewheeling madness. 

The blasting energy of Condemned To Suffer is the perfect underpinning to a truly devastating record. The guitar playing is hectic and powerful. As I mentioned before, the tone on this record is truly special. There's a meatiness to it that I feel like many of the bands peers can't even touch on. It's a delight to fling yourself into the pit and experience the chaotic and dangerous madness of a record that seems to continually push harder. Condemned To Suffer charms in the breadth of the work. It's a record that really leans into the brutal death metal aesthetic but executes in a way that is high powered and hectic. It's a delight to get thrown into this hellscape. 

While there may be no real surprises on Condemned to Suffer it's a masterful record that will capture the imagination. There's an insanity behind the album that makes it addictive and a willingness to rip faces off that I just have to love. The brutarian stomp and devilish ministrations that Sepiroth lean into are the stuff of nightmares and I adore it. If you're looking to satisfy your death metal fix and get flung into the pit so you can appreciate the tormented glory of the genre executed at the highest possible level then this is the album for you. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/sepirothnl

Benighted - Obscene Repressed

This is a really fucked up one. Benighted have always been one of the worlds most twisted slam bands and I've long been enamored with their dedication to all that is extreme. That being said, this new record, which explores cannibalism, oedipus complexes and dysphoria is a fucking weird one. The band has reached new extremes and fascinates with the depth of their madness. Their unique brand of brutal death metal has reached a thrilling new height and has listeners in awe of the devastation they have crafted.

There is something strangely refreshing about these Frenchmens blasting brand of grind. Sure they aren't breaking the rules or defining their genre, but they are making something that is wonderfully fucked up and relentlessly addictive. On top of that - holy fuck the pig squeals. They've reached a new level. For those of us who live for the 'BREEEE' Benighted have brought it to a new level on this record. It's hard not to be enamored with the variety of vocals styles presented here actually. A track like The Starving Beast sees everything from a low gurgle, to standard death growls and of course pig squeals - there's a lot to unpack.

With lyrics inspired by their frontmans career in the psych ward, it's not surprising that Benighted are routinely bale to reach new levels of depravity with each passing record. This is a horrifying set of tracks and one that is going to thrill from top to bottom. There are few slam records that really capture my imagination in 2020. It seems to me though that Benighted are in a position to transcend the genre. There music is endlessly exciting and their approach distinct. I a crowded scene full of imitators, Benighted manage to stand proudly apart.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/brutalbenighted

Impureza - La Caida De Tonatiuh

I am honestly a little bit shocked that I hadn't heard of Impureza before today, a Hispanic themed brutal death metal band based in France would normally be right up my alley, but the band has long toiled in relative obscurity. Perhaps a result of their relatively limited output, this latest offering La Caida De Tonatiuh is their first full length in seven years, the band hasn't quite gotten the attention they so obviously deserve. Their fusion of Iberian music with technical and brutal death metal, while not seamless, is certainly really fucking interesting.

There is a devastating magic to this band, they truly understand the power of every genre of music that they dabble in. Their brutal death metal parts are delicious, filled with Phrygian melodies and sick ass lines, meanwhile the Spanish music which adds valuable padding to the record serves to give the album a sense of depth that it might not otherwise have achieved. The spiraling mysteries and transcendent choruses encapsulated within this record though are frequently very potent, hinting at bold soundscapes and reminding us time and time again why it's so goddamn worth it to get lost in this whole thing.

The way that Impureza bounce back and forth between traditional music and some truly sick riffs is shockingly well done. Rather than bands like Tengger Cavalry which foolishly just sandwich things together this record sees the band as masters of both styles and combining ideas in order to guarantee that there is a sense of forward thinking magic behind the whole thing. These tracks are compositionally very powerful and make for addictive listening. Detaching yourself from La Caida De Tonatiuh can be a challenge, but one that is a pleasure to take on.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Impurezaconquista

Beheaded - Beast Incarnate

Brutal Death Metal is a tricky sub-genre. It's hard to stand out in such a narrow field AND not write the same gross, gore soaked, gurgling mess that most BDM bands do. Beheaded manages to put forth a blisteringly heavy record that stands up with the best technical and brutal death metal bands out there right now. 

With mind melting guitar riffs and drumming that will make your head spin, you'd assume that this record would rise above the norm and it does. I dare say this release could even help newcomers get into BDM and it's not hard to see why upon further listening. The extremity is definitely there but Beast Incarnate remains just accessible enough to not alienate fans of regular, good old fashioned death metal or those who tend to be very picky with the sub-genre like I am. Straight out of the gate, Beheaded grabs you by the balls with the opening title track and continues to pummel you with an onslaught of heaviness that rivals many of the genre greats. Once you put on this record, it does not let up and if you are looking for something extreme, you will certainly find it with Beast Incarnate.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/BeheadedMT/?fref=ts

Putrevore - Tentacles of Horror

Crushing, evil, filled to the brim with burning conviction Tentacles of Horror is a Swedish death metal record. This is one of the single most satisfying  records I have heard all year - every meaty riff digging into your bones and leaving you suffer as one possessed - a slave to the crushing and undeniable slaughter of heavy metals magic. The crushing bottom end that defines this record is simply colossal in scale - it leaves you suffering under pure sonic weight - this is what heavy metal was meant to be in its purest and most primal form, and you find yourself suffocating in the murky horrors.

See - my day to day can be chaotic - life in the music industry is like that. And that's what makes albums like Tentacles of Horror so god damn valuable. They force you to face the monolith of your own inhumanity and realize that in the end we all die and need to take life as it comes. Every crunching riff and speedy vocal delivery helps to build an aural storm that leaves you suffocating. Toss in some slowed down sections that punch the listener right in the gut and you find yourself utterly beholden to the eternal power of the music. After all - isn't that what rock and roll is all about? If the rhythms aren't making your heart beat fast and the lyrics aren't pissing off your parents - why even bother?

Tentacles of Horror is a death metal nerds death metal record and that's a huge part of what makes it so delectable. You find yourself lost in the bands pure ritualistic sense of blasphemy and it's hard not to be enamored with their ability to melt your face off with every roaring chord. Putrevore get to the raw beating heart of death metal and hold it proudly within their fangs. These guys are fucked up, demented, and loving every unholy minute of it, and if you can't handle the riffs, then you might as well leave the hall.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/putrevore?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Daemoniac

Daemoniac belong to a special breed of death metal madness the kind of triumphant heaviness that speaks to the endlessly fucked up nature of the genre, Daemoniac understand what it means to unleash death metal destruction with little consideration for how the common man finds the balls out depravity that defines their sound. The fact of the matter is that with their new record - the beautifully demented Lord Of Immolation the band unleash buzzing riffs and guttural growls to make the listener suffer for ever demented second. As you find yourself getting lost in the twisted remonstrations of these metal masters they come out and prove that they understand the beautiful evil that all death metal bands should have. At the end of the day - this is the kind of thing that gets my heart beating fast. Daemoniac come at you at a million miles an hour and then suddenly slow it down, rip your brains out and then trample all over them. In other words, prepare for the madness to begin.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/DAEMONIAC666

Coffins - Craving To Eternal Slumber

The promo material for this Coffins mini-disc lists the record as "Mandatory death metal" and I have to say, that about does her. Coffins have been able to put together one of the most truly terrifying and strangely tantalizing death metal records of the year. Their unique brand of utterly crushing Japanese death metal has alwyas left fans scraping their jaws off the floor, but this 6 track release goes above and beyond, Craving To Eternal Slumber proves that Coffins have the potential to go down in history as the decades dominant death metal demons.

What Coffins understand is that their is a certain triumph to the awful brutality that gives so much of their music flavor. They understand that a mind melting bottom end can overwhelm so much of the other bullshit that comes along with death metal. These guys have managed to strip the genre down to its core and show us a bold way forward and give us a chance to look beyond and see the terrifying power that this kind of music can have. You hear the rumbling menace of tracks like Tyrant and at first it's almost hard to believe the level of insanity within - yet the deeper you delve the more you find yourself in love with a band who have torn the world apart.

The sense of controlled chaos and the roaring distortion that defines Craving To Eternal Slumber only serves to make the demonic doings of the musicians all the more palatable. Coffins have always played by their own rules and now more than ever their buzzsaw guitars and sacrificial rites are seeing them bring forth ungodly sounds that have an impossible to deny charm. Gloriously heavy and unafraid to make the listener suffer Coffins have done it again, so hold on to your hats and pray for mercy, it's killing time.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/intothecoffin?fref=ts

Skinless - Only The Ruthless Remain

What's in a name? I mean - it's certainly clear with Skinless. Their new record Only The Ruthless Remain is a veritable paean to brutality - the kind of  death defying gore metal that blazes ahead at impossible speeds and uses guttural vocals of the most vile quality to fuel some truly demented music. Skinless understand what it means to bring crunching riffs and a destructive sonic assault to the fore - it's easy to fall in love with the bestial beauty they represent, and with every angular riff on the record I fall a little deeper in their pit.

The Slayer worship on Only The Ruthless Remain provides a tasty counterpoint to the sublime heaviness that dominates so many of the non melodic lines. Yet from the first the mood is set - Skinless are going to beat the listeners head in with downtuned guitars that feature some of the gnarliest death metal tone I have heard all year. The songwriting is absolutely stellar - the speedy attack on these tracks is way too much fun to dig in too and the occasional guitar solos provide a noodly respite from a double bass attack that seems to be torn from hell. Skinless get what death metal is all about and at the end of the day that's all that matters.

Skinless are only going to get better from here - the way they have created layered and intricate songs on Only The Ruthless Remain speaks to the bands ability to refine and invoke unholy death metal that comes straight from the crypt. Deceptively technical and unafraid to push the boundaries Skinless seem to be on the verge of creating a new wave of death metal, fusing all that has come before. Now all we can do is hop on for the ride and hope that these guys live up to the potential shown on Only The Ruthless Remain.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Skinless?fref=ts

Disordered

Before I really get into covering Disordered and the fun of their sound let's get one thing out of the way Carnal Materialism is a fucking killer album title. That being said, Disordered deliver some fun panicky thrashy death metal that has a vital energy to it that will keep you party rockin' all through the night. With spiralling riffs and fetch vocal lines Disordered come together in an almost machine-like manner. The balance of moodier moments with hard hitting thrash riffs creates an impregnable sound. The real drawback here is that the production is very muddy making it hard to really appreciate some of the heavier riffs. The potential is apparent though and I'm excited to hear how Disordered develop. At this point it's only a matter of digging in and feeling the infectious infuriating power of the almighty grooves that define the Disordered sound. Exploring what these guys do with a cosmic sense of heaviness is a pleasure and hints at great things to come from these German merchants of death.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disordered/402263516518453

Biopsy

I'll admit I never got into the whole brutal death metal/slam thing beyond bands like Benighted, who, admittedly, are local heroes in France. That being said, Biopsy certainly know how to crush. With extremely brutal (yet oftentimes too soft!) vocals and crushing grooves these guys get at the sort of primitive destruction that rightfully defines the genre. A band who are unafraid to bash your skull in and come charging out of the gate at a million miles an hour, there is a lot to dig into with their new EP Fractals of Derangement. When the band breaks into more identifiable riffs though is when you get a sense of how good they have the potential to be. The moments that Biopsy surrenders to groove, or even Slayer-derived storms of notes falling off the E string like bullets you realize that these guys have the potential to tear fans limb from limb. So let the music poison you and leave you stripped, raped and mangled, Biopsy are coming for your life.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/biopsyband

Incinerate - Eradicating Terrestrial Species

There is something rather satisfying about Suffocation-esque face melting death metal replete with oppressive grunts and spiralling riffs. Incinerate have managed to carve out the kind of throat ripping death metal madness that leaves a pint of blood on the floor and forces the listener to wonder what the hell is going on in these guys lives. With their new record they have managed to take their distinct brand of old school death metal to the fore, crushing listeners skulls and forcing you to reconsider your place in this twisted society we have crafted for ourselves.

The way that these guys go all out for the duration of the record is impressive. Yet there is actually a method behind the madness. These are songs that smash your face into the ground, yet also give you a moment to breather with dark and oftentimes intimidating atmospherics. It maeks sense that Incinerate would be able to produce such an oppressive masterpiece. These are songs not of innocence but experience, there is something suffocating the music, forcing you to contemplate the fucked up reality we all face. See, these guys have been at it for years now, they understand what it means to create pure fucking death metal slaughter.

At the end of the day, what can you do but bang your head until you're all dead to the sound of metal that is glorious and pure. These are songs that have a manic dedication to all that is unholy. The grim and wondrously satanic magic of these tracks thunders proudly on. Sure, it may not be for everyone, but these Minnesota death metal gods have managed to put together years of work into something magical, something that will grind you into dust and inspire you to look at death in a strange and enlightening new way.

Find Them On Facebook!

www.facebook.com/IncinerateDM

Vile Disgust

Every once in a while I naively think that I have found the peak of brutality, as if after a certain point things can't get any more offensive or violent or plain ol' fucked up. Then I discover a band like Vile Disgust and realize that I may very well be only scratching the surface. Brutal to a fault and wonderfully simplistic, I'm still not sure if I actually like this band or if I'm just in awe of how far they've crossed the line. In a world where the internet has normalized all sorts of horrifying stuff It's kind of satisfying that a group can still shock. The blasting magic and pig squeals that define songs with creative titles like "How To Make a Girl Fart" are nicely contrasted by unholy samples hinting at murder, rape, or even just people puking. Vile Disgust have created something so beautifully anti-art I can't help but smile and encourage people to check these dudes out. In other words, watch out guys, Urban Outfitters should be stocking Vile Disgust merch any day now!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/VileDisgust

Six of Swords

I get a special tingling in my heart when I get a personal message from a promoter, especially the promoter for a band as sick as this one, simply put, it's pretty fetch. Tuned to Drop A and brutal as they come, Six of Swords is the kind of death metal band who understand the glory that death metal can have. The dedication to brutality here is impressive, and the ominous crush of songs like Lock the Cell is impressive. The spiralling quality that some of these riffs have is equally engaging. See, unlike many of their peers, Six of Swords have a distinct flavor to them that helps to keep the music in their new EP Polar Vortex so engaging. The one issue I have with this band is that the four songs found on this EP don't really give them time to develop their ideas. I feel that with a true LP, and some longer format songs that let them fully showcase their songwriting prowess Six of Swords could be truly special. As is, these guys are exciting and bringing forth fresh ideas in a stagnant realm. Go forth and get jiggy with it, this band will pound your bones to dust.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/sixofswords

Obituary in Paris w/M-pire of Evil, Dust Bolt, Rotting Repugnancy (@Le Divan du Monde, 29/01/2015)

Following the release of their latest, crowd-funded album, Obituary was back with a vengeance last Thursday for an unmissable night for any old-school death metal fan. I, for one, being the death metal aficionado that I am, could not have been more excited to finally catch these death metal icons. Opening up the festivities for the evening were no less than 3 bands, each of them offering a different take on heavy music, making up for a nicely balanced line-up. Within this lineup of opening bands (of which all of them were completely unknown to me) were some duds as well as some pretty pleasant surprises.

Kicking off the show was the Midlands based UK death metal band Rotting Repugnancy, whose set I will quickly skim to talk about the following bands. While there wasn't anything inherently wrong with the bands' brand of brutal death metal, I honestly didn't find much appeal in watching their set. There were a couple of groovy riffs here and there but for the most part I wasn't all that convinced. One could easily tell these were competent musicians, which leads me to suspect that the overall sound of their set was to blame. Being well aware that this is death metal that we're talking about, I found the guitar sound to be a little too muddy for its own good and lacking a bit of precision and crunch to give it a "fuller" sound.

Next up was a fresh new band from Germany, playing for the first time in Paris but visibly with the intention of not making it their last. As soon as the sound checking was done, Dust Bolt rushed to the stage and immediately made the jump to light speed with their insanely energetic crossover and thrash-revival sound. Visibly drawing inspiration from bands like D.R.I, Municipal Waste and Suicidal Tendencies, these young-bloods blasted off with an insane amount of energy, running across the stage, waving their instruments around like passionate musicians living the dream. These musicians, fueled with such pure passion and energy, visibly won over their audience that night and effectively managed to give a good deal of them a strong appetite for some friendly violent fun in the pit. If there is one lesson to be learned from this set, it would be that Thrash is definitely not dead, and that so long as we have passionate musicians and passionate fans, thrash will never die. Going all-in for their first Parisian show, Dust Bolt left the stage with some well-deserved praise, having effectively conquered some new territory through their musicianship well-deserving of an upcoming headlining set.

Up next on the bill was a band whose name visibly did not strike a chord for a good deal of us but whose members obviously did. M-pire of Evil, formerly known as Primevil, is an old-school speed metal act from Newcastle founded by ex-members of the genre-defining band Venom, including its founding guitarist Mantas. For anyone wondering where the magic of Venom went after their now-classic first three albums, look no further: Mantas and his team kept the essence and spirit from the early days of Venom and have been touring and writing music under this grossly unrecognized new name and new formation. It somewhat saddens me to know that such creative potential resurfaces only now, since such a band would have probably gotten a lot more recognition and influence, had they formed during the time when Venom and thrash metal was at its peak. Tony Dolan, having replaced Cronos in Venom for nearly 15 years, still was at the top of his game, as was Mantas. M-pire of Evils' set mostly consisted of classic Venom songs, with occasionally a couple of new original songs blended into the setlist. With the exception of a few sound issues that were quickly solved, this set was an incredible treat and an amazing surprise for any heavy metal enthusiast.

Finally it was time for Obituary to play the evening off. As silly as it may sound, I was pleased to find that guitarist Trevor Peres was still rocking his Stratocaster and that frontman John Tardys' passion for camo shorts had not died out after all these years. The band started off their set with the song "Century of Lies" and "Visions in my head" off of their latest album "Inked in Blood", off of which they will be playing the most songs alongside their classic debut album "Slowly we rot". Another great surprise was the presence of lead guitarist Kenny Andrews handling the solos, considering that the bands' previous show in Paris had been as a 4 piece. While not crucial, the presence of a lead guitarist did make for a nice addition.

For the next hour-and a half to 2 hours, the crowd went absolutely insane, turning the venue into a full-on death metal warzone for the entirety of the set. John Tardys' instantly recognizable howling screams certainly haven't aged a bit, and neither did any of Obituarys' classic 2-beat thrash grooves and their ever-so-crushing mid-tempo riff breaks.

In short, Thursday evening was an incredibly enjoyable evening, with some great opening acts and a top-quality performance from Obituary, who still live up to their reputation. Relying on their simple yet effective formula for nearly 3 decades now, these death metal veterans know all about consistency and doing what they do best.

Robin

PS: A special thanks goes to the guys from Garmonbozia booking and Relapse records for making this review possible!

Rotting Repugnancy

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/RottingRepugnancy

Dust Bolt

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/dustbolt

M-pire of Evil

Official Website

http://www.mpireofevil.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/mpireofevil

Obituary

Official Website

http://www.obituary.cc/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand

Obituary setlist:

1. Centuries of Lies

2. Visions In My Head

3. Infected

4. Intoxicated

5. Bloodsoaked

6. Immortal Visions

7. 'Til Death

8. Don't Care

9. Violence

10. Stinkupuss

11. Back to One

12. Dead Silence

  ____________________

13. Back on Top

14. Inked In Blood

15. I'm in Pain

16. Slowly We Rot

Eye of the Destroyer - S/T

Eye of the Destroyer is the kind of brutal death metal bad who have a lot going on at once, so digging into the sound can at first seem like a fairly major task. In this case though, it's incredibly worthwhile, proving that these guys are not only great musicians and songwriters, but seemingly turned onto something greater than themselves. The fact of the matter is that Eye of the Destroyer have a dedication to brutality that few of their peers can compare too, and when the inhuman growls of songs like Crushed Between Earth and Bone kick in it hits hard.

I think what you have to realize about Eye of the Destroyer is that there is a very definite sense of sonic force that comes out of the speakers when you listen to these guys. When Eye of the Destroyer hit the turntable it comes blasting out at a million miles an hour, getting heads banging and skulls cracking. See, Eye of the Destroyer have a wonderful sense of self, that is to say, they know exactly where they're coming from with their music and how they're going to bombard the listener. These songs will leave your bones cracked and your skull caved in. They understand the primal and magical nature of death metal, and at the end of the day, that's all we can ask for.

Technical and highly engaging I'm not sure what else I have to say about this self titled debut. These guys are onto something pretty special, and the raggedy growls help to emphasize the raw magic of this band. With distinctly evil riffs that get your body twisting into unholy motion Eye of the Destroyer are going to make you want to jump in the pit. So feel the grooves and let this band take control of your soul and all that you know. They understand true death metal and they will tear off your face.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/eyeofthedestroyer?ref=br_tf

Dying Fetus w/Goatwhore, Malevolence and Fallujah in Paris (@Le Divan du Monde, 24/11/2014)

Last Wednesday, the city of Paris had yet again the honor to host a show from one of death metals' most esteemed bands: Dying Fetus. Playing alongside these veterans of brutality was a hefty and diverse lineup of supporting acts, each adding their radically different take on heavy music.

First up on the list was the San Francisco tech-death outfit Fallujah. Armed with insane technical proficiency and 2 magnificent albums under their belt, the band was all set to put on a show that was sue to convert any audience member that was not already a fan.
For those who are not familiar with the band, Fallujah play a style of technical death metal with an ethereal, space-like atmosphere, with a ambient guitars and dreamy orchestrations.
The 5 piece pulled off a solid performance, each member fully focused on playing their highly technical songs with the accuracy of a surgeon.
Unfortunately, while the performance of the band was spot on, the show was plagued by some sound issues. While the clean sections and leads were audible and fairly clear, the low end was rather muddy. The problem seemed to come from the sampled orchestrations and the loud drums that messed up what would've been an otherwise nicely balanced sound.

The second band on the bill was a band that would go on to confuse a fair share of the audience that night. Going by the sinister name of Malevolence, band caught a lot of people off guard by stepping on stage with not so sinister hardcore/hip-hop attires, completed with beanie hats and new-era logos. Facing an already skeptical crowd of death metal fans, the band caught the audience off guard again by delivering a powerful concoction of Metallic Hardcore with heavy thrash and groove metal undertones. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of different bands, not the least of which obviously being amongst the likes of Suicidal Tendencies and Lamb of God, the band offers a surprisingly fresh take on Metallic Hardcore. Occasionally, the songs would drift into beatdown sections, thus causing the mandatory allergic reaction on the behalf of the purist metalhead community, though I found these parts to be well integrated into the songs' structures, which is very rare. The Vocal delivery were somewhere between that of a beatdown hardcore vocalist and that of a heavy thrash vocalist.I'll also add credit to the bands' exceptionally clean mix, there really isn't anything to say here. The audience who wasn't there to see Malevolence was yet again struck by surprise when the band's lead guitarist ripped up an incredible solo with an impressive display of tapping skills and tasteful shredding. Overall, this set was a very nice surprise to me, and I feel like the band's hardcore attire was one of the only things that were holding the audience back from fully enjoying an otherwise solid set.

Next up was a band whose name and appearance was more familiar to the crowd: Goatwhore. With their spikey gauntlets, pointy guitar, grim black metal band shirts, long hair and beards, it would be no exaggeration to say that Goatwhore are the archetype of the extreme metal bands. Goatwhores' music is mainly based in thrash metal, while borrowing strong influences from Black metal as well as some hints of death metal. If you are a fan of catchy songs with blast-beats and d-beats over a crunchy guitar tone, raspy black metal vocals and low death metal growls, this band is for you. Their formula is simple, straight to the point and highly effective, with enough variation to keep things from becoming redundant. Credit is also due to the bands' superb stage presence, putting on a show of furious headbanging and extensive air-guitar riffing from the vocalist. Like with the previous band on the bill, Goatwhore's set was supported by an impeccable sound balance. Finishing off with their ever popular single "Apocalyptic Havoc", the band delivered a truly magnificent set that night.

Finally, the time had come for the stars of the evening to come out and shine. Dying fetus walked on stage with grim, serious faces, making it clear that they were not here to mess around. The band went straight to business the very second they finished soundchecking, starting the final set of the evening with the crushing "In the Trenches", from their brilliant and appropriately named last album "Reign Supreme".
The band showed yet again why they reign supreme on the deathgrind genre, to a crowd that visibly did not any convincing in the first place. Le divan du monde was conquered with lighting fast grindcore riffs and bonecrushing brutal death metal sections. The band went on to blast away with a set of songs focusing primarily on their newer material, while occasionally jamming out to some old classics.
While the sound was not perfect and the band did make the occasional mistake here and there, these problems were easily overlooked and unnoticed due to the absolute mayhem going on in the pit. To their satisfaction, Dying Fetus turned the venue into a gigantic, deadly warzone (Personal note: the 4ft8 girl and highlight green shirted girl who survived the whole set in the pit have earned my deepest respect, let me tell you). Amongst the heart of darkness, some audience members may have noticed the presence of a brave peacekeeper that was handing out free ice cream cones and Mars bar ice cream. I could not refrain from bursting into laughter at the surreal sight when one audience member decided to throw one of the Mars ice cream bars on the stage. I mean... out of all the things that must've landed on stage during a Dying Fetus show, I'm guessing tonights’ Mars ice cream bar must have marked a first in the bands' 23 year long career. Finally, finishing up their set with their old school classics "Pissing in the Mainstream" and "Kill your mother/Rape your dog", followed by the monumental "Your Treachery will die with you", the band left the venue with a splendid finale, leaving us all covered in sweat, blood, and bruises and most importantly a big smile on our faces. A perfect ending to a monumental evening.

Robin

Special thanks go to the guys from Fallujah for making this review possible!

Dying Fetus Setlist

Fallujah

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Malevolence

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Goatwhore

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http://www.goatwhore.net/

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Dying Fetus

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Decimation - Reign of Ungodly Creation

I'm not usually a fan of the more brutal metals, and I hardly think that Decimation would normally have entered my playlist if I hadn't been sent them to review. Fortunately though they did make their way onto my iPod and since then I have been suffering under the glory of these Turkish greats. Their new record, the terrifying and destructive Reign of Ungodly Creation is nine tracks of twisted death metal that will inspire circle pits and crack skulls across the globe. These guys understand the spirit of death metal and deliver it straight to the gut.

I think the frenetic nature of the riffs and high powered vocals are what really gets me into this band. When the drums blast this hard it's impossible not to get moving. The raw energy behind the Decimation sound is very impressive and evidences the groups dedication to brutality, a dedication few other bands can match. See, behind all of the demonic riffs and twisted vocals there are actually some impressive grooves that you can latch in too, making this an album that is inherently listenable. Their's a lot of replay value here too, the sound is thick and probably can't be digested in one listen. Yet just one listen can set you off, moshing around the room like a thing possessed.

Simply put, Reign of Ungodly Creation is proof that Decimation get it. They get the true core of death metal and understand how to make people thrash around until their bodies are broken. If you want a soundtrack to your demise you couldn't have stumbled on to a better album. These songs will guide you into the eternal dark, and there is a very real beauty to be had here. So let the evil seep in and try to find your way through the colossal chugs and high speed turnarounds. Reign of Ungodly Creation is quite possibly the best metal record to come out of Turkey yet!

Find Decimation on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/DecimationTR

Apontokation

There is something inherently satisfying and delicious about primal death metal. Stripped back riffs and destructive rhythms may not be the most original thing in the world, but I'll be damned if it isn't a joy to listen too. Today's band, Apontokation are among the great Spanish purveyors of a genre that God spat on. There is something magically evil about this bands music and their obsession with death. This is a death metal band for death metal fans with crazed lyrics and chuggy riffs that resonate with the spirit of the genre. The breakdowns (or half time parts if you want to be snobbish about it) are to die for and prove that Apontokation really know how to get heavy when they have too. Apontokation understand what death metal is all about and their muddy destructive songs are the kind of pieces that drive children insane. This is what brutal death metal should be all about, and before you're done even one song you know that Apontokation know where it's at. These guys are going hard and seem to have the world ahead of them. With the Spanish scene looking better than ever, I could see Apontokation really going places fast!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/APONTOKATION/180125972031603

Death Comes Pale

Crushing death metal off of the almighty Deepsend Records, Death Comes Pale is the kind of blasphemy that only Scandinavian bands can reliably produce. These songs are grim and unholy, odes to the crushing power that this kind of music truly deserves to have on the souls of the meek. With sick growls and punishing blasts, Death Comes Pale is the pinnacle of what modern death metal can be, fast, violent, and surprisingly intelligent. These guys have some truly interesting lyrics, and someone in the band has clearly read some very interesting stuff. Unholy and cruel, Death Comes Pale is a band with a clear artistic direction and with a clear mission, they are only going deeper into the void from here. Their music is very exciting, especially for a genre that is so stagnant. While they pay tribute to the classic death metal maxims they are not afraid to push a few boundaries and get something that is a joy to listen to. Make no mistake, Death Comes Pale are going to smash your face in and bleed you dry, so dive into the pit and let these unholy vibes consume your soul.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/deathcomespale