Cognizance (UK) - Inquisition (2013)

Country: United Kingdom
Released on: self-released

Tracklist:

1. Clones of the Night Sky 03:28
2. The Perennial Struggle 03:40
3. Epistemology 03:19
4. Defying a Natural Process 03:12
13:39

A study by the European commission recently showed, that file sharing was not only not harming the music industry, but was good for sales. Me finding this underground gem of a band, called Cognizance on a big Death Metal sharing forum shows this once again. Although the CD of this EP is already sold out I am able to listen to this and to inform you about it and recommend this. Anyway.
Just take a look at ths awesome cover. Epic piece of art for an epic release. Brilliant.
This CD is just a brilliant piece of work. It shows how rich and entertaining a technical approach in Death Metal can be. Dynamic song structures, interesting riffing, melodic soli, high paced brutality and musical brilliance are the core ingredients for this piece of work. The song writing is brillant and a real pleasure to listen to. The mixture of creative riff work and solo parts thrown in regularly just works brilliantly. The highly melodic and extremely pleasing solo parts take away nothing of the intensity and brutality of the songs. The vocals are straight forward forced Death Metal growls. Brutal, massive and executed perfectly. The drum work is tight as fuck, fast and accompanies the flying riffs perfectly. The production of this EP is absolutely stunning for a debut release. A rich sound, worthy of a full-lenght. Both the production and the music prove the passion that was put into this self-released CD by these two guys from the UK. This band would be a candidate for the Unique Leader roster. Let's just hope they don't go to that shitty label.

Highly entertaining Death Metal release. Brutal, emotional, fast, technical.

88%

Defeated Sanity (GER) - Passages Into Deformity (2013)

Country: Germany
Released on: Willowtip Records

Tracklist:

1. Initiation 01:15
2. Naraka 05:07
3. Verblendung 04:45
4. Lusting for Transcendence 03:06
5. The Purging 04:59
6. Verses of Deformity 04:17
7. Perspectives 06:49
8. Frenzy 02:36
9. Martyrium 04:50
37:44

I was absolutely stoked to be able to listen to the follow up to what for me is one of the best Brutal Death albums ever written: Chapters of Repugnance. I am not a person who cares to wait till my own CD arrives; I’ll pre-listen to shared digitals anyway. It was clear to me that living up to my extremely high expectations wouldn’t be easy for Defeated Sanity.

To be absolutely frank, this album is just grand. It’s January and I am almost certain that there will be no other release this year that can top Passages Into Deformity for me. Lühring’s vocals fit perfectly into the sound of Defeated Sanity; he has adapted a style quite different to the one he used to have on Despondency. It’s not ultra guttural which has also been what I adored on Chapters of Repugnance with Magana It’s his deep forced Death Metal vocals with a lot of variety. Great performance, we need more of that in BDM, not more gurgle, blubber vocals. The instruments are performed on a level of skill and musical brilliance that just offers unequaled opportunities. The riffs dark, crushing, playful, jazzy, slammy, massive and just dripping with brutality and creativity. The bass lines are chunky, perfectly audible which is brilliant and just awesome in their complexity. Gruber plays the drums with a natural esprit to it and with a brilliant sound that is raw and absolutely brutal and perfect in recording quality at the same time. Just beautiful. The music as a whole is just so dynamic, brutal and creative, alternating paces, fast, slow, old school slamming at times, adding an intensity and heaviness to the music that is just great. The song writing is just a celebration of everything that makes BDM great. That’s all I can say.
Now to some very important aspect about Defeated Sanity that is almost unique in the world of BDM for me. A pity actually.
Defeated Sanity is more than just music, it is more than just Death Metal. It is art. It is the depth of the music together with the artwork of the album and the lyrics. The brilliance in it, the thick atmosphere of absolute isolation and darkness you can almost touch, the impression of utter suffering, both fascinating and absolute. It is the elegance of a scalpel instead of the rawness of a bat. It is not the rude brutality that other bands achieve. It is pure violence.

I don’t know what more I can say. Did Passages Into Deformity live up to my expectations? Yes, surprisingly it did, although it seemed almost impossible. Did it top Chapters of Repugnance? I can’t say. They are different, but both perfect in their way. If I had to choose, Chapters of Repugnance would be one percent ahead of Passages Into Deformity. Defeated Sanity are back. They are still the uncrowned kings of the whole genre of BDM. Letting even other brilliant bands far behind, letting all the unimaginative and childlike slam only BDM bands far far behind, Defeated Sanity once again reach yet another peak in the musical landscape.

100%

Dehumanized (USA) - Controlled Elite (2012)

Country: USA (New York City, New York)
Released on: Comatose Music

Tracklist:

1. Bloodties 04:15
2. Body Colonizers 02:29
3. Soiled 02:39
4. Set in Stone 03:48
5. Controlled Elite 04:11
6. Immorally Reborn 03:02
7. His Burden 03:31
8. Root of Evil 03:30
9. None Shall Remain 03:09
10. Man vs. Man 02:33
11. Condemned 07:32
40:39

After 14 years the NYDM band Dehumanized has finally released their new album Controlled Elite on Comatose Music. Having seen them this year on NRW Death Fest in Germany I was really excited that this band was still active and working on a new album.
This new album continues where Prophecies Foretold once ended and adds some positive things to it as well. Dehumanized have finally got the fat, clear and just unbelievably heavy sound they always deserved. Production is just neat and makes this record so intense and brutal. Trademark Dehumanized riffs in the New York vein, some pretty classic Death Metal sounding soli spread into here and there, which surprised me a bit. Didn't really remember that on the predecessor really. One thing I will never understand and that I find almost as annoying as long samples are hidden tracks like the last track Condemned on this record. Four minutes of silence, then the track kicks in. Unnecessary and annoying although the song itself is a beast. The new vocalist Centrone somehow seemed to me as a mixture between Mullen (Suffocation) and Gallagher (Dying Fetus) and delivers a crushing and absolutely commited and intense performance. I'm not a fan of high pitched vocals and there are some in here, but nothing I would really bother about really. The whole album just seems so organic and dynamic, keeping NYDM and the legacy of Dehumanized real, yet sounding fresh and new. Riffs just roll you over in this tank like manner, that provoke you to just jump around and freak out. This is it.

A real pleasure to listen to this album, that does everything right and satisfies me as a fan of their first album to the fullest. Dehumanized are back.

90%

Absurdist (USA) - Absurdist (2012)

Country: USA (Frederick, Maryland)
Released on: Lost Apparitions Records

Tracklist:

1. Consuming Disbelievers 03:25
2. Disavowing the Myth of Law 03:00
3. Incorporeal Gestation 04:26
4. Anthropocentric Decline 03:17
5. Ascetic Paragon 02:58
17:06

I recently discovered the Brutal Death outfit Absurdist from Maryland and their new self-titeled EP and I was stoked. First really positive thing I recognized was the great sound. Crystal clear instruments. The drums hammering, the vocals absolutely brilliant. A pleasant surprise compared with a lot of bad muddy sounding EPs nowadays. The vocals are understandable, yet absolutely crushing and brutal. Somehow lets me think of a brutalized version of Suffocation's singer Mullen. Earth shaking vocal performance for sure. The music does have a bit of an old school vein, having some pounding New York styled riffs being interrupted by straight forward blast parts, yet letting room for some technical disharmonic insertions and a nice heavy metal steyled solo in Incorporeal Gestation. Absolutely crazy. The song writing is brilliant, always very dynamic and thought out. Pace changes going from blast attacks to groove ridden NYDM parts to mid tempo parts accompanied by a nice guitar line. The over all sound is just aggressive, brutal and clear.

The sound of a full-lenght, the musical strenght of a year old band. Wish more bands would put out such brilliant EPs. Highly recommended material. Thanks to Aaron from Absurdits who gave me a copy of this.

88%

Serocs (MEX) - Oneirology (2012)

Country: Mexico (Guadalajara, Jalisco)
Released on: self-released

Tracklist:

1. Reckoning 01:18
2. Cabal 03:34
3. Metamorphosis 02:25
4. Changeling 03:44
5. A Feast for Chalchiuhtotolin 00:51
6. Mictlan Calleth 04:16
7. 13 B'ak'tun 03:48
8. Emetics 01:13
9. Oneirology 04:35
10. To Each His Own 04:09
11. Unwanted Protection 03:37
33:30

The last thing I remember of Serocs is the cover of his EP So On And So Forth which was pretty memorable. I just found out that this is a one man project from Mexico which I find incredible to believe (that it is a one man project, not that he's from Mexico). His new full-lenght effort Oneirology is an unbelievable presentation of musical skills, creativity and refreshingly technical Deathgrind. The album starts off with an atmospheric intro. Now, I'm not a big fan of intros, samples or other stuff which is not music. But as soon as the second track kicks in you feel that this prelude was necessary to make you ready for the blasting furiosity which follows. This is how a Death Metal related album should start. The guitar work is playful, technical and always interesting. Mid-tempo parts alternate with fast blasting parts. Although being really technical the album never bores. The song writing is so creative and interesting it's a real pleasure to listen to this album. The unexpected melodic soli in the tracks 13 Backtun and Unwanted Protection are just so suprisingly cool, I really wondered why I even liked that parts. The sound of those soli reminded me of the over the top, but still highly melodic Dragonforce soli (yeah I liked that band once). Really great ideas here. The vocals (done by Josh Smith from Gutfucked) reminded me a bit of Cattle Decapitation (I don't like that band at all), but way more brutal and far better excercised. The deeps are in the nice Brutal Death vein and the highs add the technical Grind elements to the music. Great song writing and superb instrumentation.

Huge respect to this technical Deathgrind album which is so progressive, interesting and brave. Really stoked.

88%

Iniquitous Savagery (UK) - Compelled By Perverse Immorality (2012)

Country: United Kingdom (Scotland)
Released on: Grind Ethic

Tracklist:

1. Execrating Post-Operative Womb Trauma 3:46
2. Cenotaph of Vituperation 3:08
3. Compelled by a Perverse Immorality 3:09
10:03

Scotland is not really known for a lot of Brutal Death Metal acts as far as I can recall. All the more the band Iniquitous Savagery is a pleasant surprise. On their soon to be released MCD they perform sophisticated brutality full of high pace technicality, great riffing and groove parts. Sudden pace changes, blast parts shading off into groove ridden riffing like in the middle of the second track Cenotaph of Vituperation (that one really want to makes me dance). All fits very well together, the song writing is dynamic and always interesting. The vocals are just indulging. Low gutturals, disgusting gurgles, Disgorge/Gortuary like vocal styles. Good to hear there are still exellent vocalists around. Although I have sensed the sound to be a little bit metallic (I think it's the drums), the overall impression of this MCD pleases my ears. I highly anticipate their further work.

Great debut effort. Watch out for Iniquitous Savagery, they'll have a pleasant future in the Brutal Death Metal underground ahead of them. Support this great band and get their MCD on Grindethic.

88%

Terrordrome (GR) - The Day of Sacrilege (2012)

Country: Greece (Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia)
Released on: Grind Ethic Records

Tracklist:

1. Alas, In the Wound... 03:23
2. ...For Mayhem to Begin 04:03
3. Bounded 03:25
4. Moribund 03:36
5. The Day of Sacrilege 02:39
6. Compel to Sin 04:10
7. Conceit Is the Disease 02:46
8. Impale the Unfit Servant 03:21
9. Antediluvian Malediction 05:42
33:05

Today my pre-order order of the new Terrordrome album "The Day of Sacrilege" arrived at my place. I have been a huge fan of their last full-lenght and was eager to get this new CD of theirs. The new Terrordrome record, however strange it might appear to fans of their last effort "Vehement Convulsion", might be a grower. They definitely changed their style into something more progressive and technical, yet precisely violent and brutal. Now, at first I was shocked of what I heard. I was halfway through the album for the first time and I really feared this could become an equally bitter disappointment as the latest Detrimentum album compared to their predecessing release. But after I spun this album about ten times I got hold of what is happening on this record I started to like what I heard. Dismal, playful guitar work and alternating rhythm patterns are being displaced by violent blast parts and your Vehement Convulsion-styled brutality. Things like rock-like guitar work chased by a blast attack of Wormed-styled sick guitar melodies in the final track is what makes this album so progressive. This record is a fine blend of alternating approaches to what is Death Metal. Technicality and weird guitar structures alternating with violent brutality, letting the musical skill of these guys undoubted. And this is what makes me like this record way more than I would have expected of me. The schizophrenia and disturbingness of this bastard is what keeps you interested in this album. I am definitely more the Vehement Convulsion type of Brutal Death fan. And although I had my doubts, this album grew into something interesting and absolutely woth listening to.

A record that leaves you confused, yet still satisfied in your hunger for brutality. Fascinating new approach.

85%

Iniquitous Deeds (USA) - EP (2012)

Country: USA (East Bay, California)
Released on: New Standard Elite

Tracklist:

1. Blackened Despair 02:18
2. Disseverment 02:18
3. Tomb of Divine Supremacy 03:02
4. Metamorphosis 03:10
10:48

So, I'm spinning the EP of our label brothers Iniquitous Deeds released on New Standard Elite. Crushing, furious, technical, very US-sounding Brutal Death approach with utterly sick vocals spiced with those beautiful grinding pinch harmonics in the riffing. I am really a fan of pinch harmonics. Love how they are sprinkled into the riffs. Twisted, not too dominant melodies in the skilled guitar work, groove ridden passages, this is the stuff of which exellent Brutal Death is made. The chunky bass lines are audible and contribute to the great over all sound of the music. The drumming is tight. Iniquitous Deeds create a very unique sound on this absolutely recommendable EP you don't want to miss.

Highly appreciated band. New Standard Elite is such a lovely label you definitely have to keep an eye on. Iniquitous Deeds is one of the jewels on the label.

90%

Down From The Wound (PH) - Agony Through Rituals of Self Purification (2007)

Country: Phillipines (Olongapo City/San Marcelino, Zambales)
Released on: Sevared Records

Tracklist:
1. Treachery 02:36
2. Infant Soaked in Baptismal Mutilation 05:23
3. Agony Through Rituals of Self Purification 05:07
4. Mockery of the Truth 05:05
5. Dismantled by Greed 02:55
6. Propagation of Divine Apostasy 06:35
7. Cerebral Injection of Sickening Depravity 05:27
8. Piercing Through the Veil of Lies 04:01
9. Infected Upon the Stench of a Perverse Faith 03:46
10. Rise from Oppression 02:15
11. Rise from Oppression (Demo 2006, Bonus Track) 01:45
12. Dismantled by Greed (Demo 2006, Bonus Track) 02:34
13. Piercing Through the Veil of Lies (Demo 2006, Bonus Track) 03:42
14. Treachery (Demo 2006, Bonus Track) 01:35
52:46
Finally back for a review! But first something about my new band: I have a BDM band called Abhorrent Castigation (see post below) and would be pleased if you'd support us :) Follow us on fb for news and shit. Thank you.

So this review is about an old album which I really like and may have crossed your way before, too. Anyway, I am spinning the CD for the second time now and I decided that this was worthy to be on this blog. Down From the Wound is much better than what you normally get from this part of the world. Nasty, but well produced Brutal Death with a large portion of slammage and ultra low gutturals with some awesome lyrics. I am not the biggest fan of gore lyrics and this band doesn't concentrate on gore lyrics, but on social stuff, religion and philosophy. I love that, but far too many bands think Brutal Death could only be brutal with gore lyrics and that is wrong. Exhibit A: Down from the Wound. Ultra low gutturals, nasty slamming, nice, but raw production and faster blast parts. The song writing is surprisingly good. I have to say that I have heard a lot of weak bands from that area of the world and Down From the Wound is definitely not one of them. The demo tracks at the end are nice to have, but something you'd probably skip as a result of the weak recording quality.

Highly recommended stuff. Never gets boring, fucking brutal and if you have this CD or will get it if you like (I hope so!) then read the lyrics. An album totally worth it.

88%

Abhorrent Castigation (GER) - Enthralled by Abysmal Delusion (Demo 2012) Download

Country: Albstadt/Bremen (Germany)
Released on: self-released

Tracklist:
1.) Injecting the Falsehood 4:41
2.) Altar of Idiocy 4:23
3.) The Dead Shepherd 2:36
4.) Into Morbid Obesity (Cerebral Effusion cover)

Download link [320 kbps]:
http://www.mediafire.com/?of6lzl2s0u2m6rp

Download link [FLAC]:
https://rapidshare.com/files/1863661805/FLAC_Abhorrent_Castigation_Demo_2012.7z

Download link [lyrics]:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fze4svlhd79pm4z



I want to share the demo of my new Brutal Death band Abhorrent Castigation with you for which I do vocals. I'm not going to review it myself :)

Like us on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/AbhorrentCastigation

Ulceration (USA) - Submerged in Gluttony (2004)

Country: USA (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Released on: Bizarre Leprous Production

Tracklist:
1. Absolution 03:05
2. Submerged in Gluttony 02:29
3. Gulag of Solovetsk 02:39
4. Lidice 02:39
5. Abhorrent Regression 04:18
15:10

Ulceration is a Brutal Death Metal band related to Splattered Cadaver, which I really love. So what we got here is heavy stuff, classic US-style BDM with unbelievably brutal and guttural vocals of the Splattered Cadaver singer. The guitar sound is raw and crushing. What I like a lot about US BDM is that there is a lot of fast drumming and if they slam, they do it right, like in the vein of Disgorge for example. Same with Ulceration. Nice groove riffing and a great flow. Can't say it often enough: a pity that such bands get so few attention. So go check out the stuff, it's really worth it!

Great US BDM, lovely vocals, nice riffing. Everything you need for your eargasms.

90%

Indecent Excision (IT) - Deification of the Grotesque (2011)

Country: Italy (Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige)
Released on: Grindethic Records

Tracklist:

1. The Genesis Of Inhuman Brutality
2. Entwined By Vermin, Submerged By Vomit
3. Purulent Glansectomy
4. Torment Through Abnegation Of Euthanasia
5. Sculpture Of Severed Remnants
6. Deification Of The Grotesque
7. Compulsive Consumption Of Rotten Entrails
8. Decomposed Fetus Collection
9. Kaleidoscopic View Of Innards
10. Chickenfuck

Aww yeah. The Italian Brutal Deathers of Indecent Excision did a new album after their
brutal 2009 EP. Deification of the Grotesque is a massive, Brutal Death Metal assault with blast beat brutality and ultra heavy grooving and slamming parts. The vocals are just so sick and so ultra guttural it's a real pleasure to listen to the exellent vocal work. As said Indecent Excision isn't one of those slam only bands, they have really brutal and fast parts in there which really create a great dynamic sound.
I have to say that this album deserved a way better drum sound (or a better drum machine actually). This really is the little drop of bitterness in the album. As a whole this is such a great album you definitely have to get.

Albums and bands like this are the reason why the Italian BDM scene is one of the scene's with the highest quality of music on earth. A must.

90%

Syphilic (USA) - A Composition of Murder (2011)

Country: USA (Detroit, Michigan)
Released on: Sevared Records

Tracklist:

1. A Composition of Murder I 01:45
2. A Composition of Murder II 02:26
3. A Composition of Murder III 03:17
4. A Composition of Murder IV 02:20
5. A Composition of Murder V 02:35
6. A Composition of Murder VI 04:50
7. A Composition of Murder VII 04:48
8. A Composition of Murder VIII 02:22
9. A Composition of Murder IX 02:30
10. A Composition of Murder X 03:05
11. A Composition of Murder XI 04:12
12. A Composition of Murder XII 02:44
36:54


So the new Syphilic came out and I've ordered it of course having real high expectations of this. The previous albums were great but with A Composition of Murder the dood really excelled himself. The album actually seems to be one 37 minute long song devided into twelve parts on the album itself. And composition is really the right word for the album, the dood (constantly forgetting his name) creates somewhat like a collage of everything what Syphilic stands for peppered with a huge amount of creativity, complexity and mere brutality. The guitar work is so unique and awesome you just hear that it's Syphilic in the moment the music kicks in. Chaotic, bit melodic guitar structures with blasting and diversified drumming, moments of silence with guitar only and the insanely guttural and deep as fuck vocal work which is just sick. This is what this album is in a nut shell. An album of enormous creativity, speed, pace changes and really sick gutturals.

His best album so far and something you don't want to miss.

95%

Bloodboil (NL) - Festering Fornication (2006)

 
Country: Netherlands (Nederweert, Limburg)

Released on: Amputated Vein Records

Tracklist:

1.     Covered in Mange     02:52    
2.     Purulent Mucus Remains     02:37    
3.     Decomposing Gore     02:04    
4.     Festering Fornication     02:26    
5.     Imposter     02:05    
6.     Self Devourment     03:18    
7.     Perishable Life     02:27    
8.     Battered and Beaten     02:37    
9.     Cannibalistic Ecstacy     02:48    
10.     Excreting Your Digested Meat     02:53    
      26:07    

Great Brutal Death from the Netherlands. This is the last record they've made back in 2006 and they still exist according to Metal Archives. Would be great to hear some new stuff of them because this is really high quality Brutal Death. High speed blasting BDM which sounds pretty US-style to me. The vocals are deep and pretty much in the style of Pyaemia (also from the Netherlands). The quality of the sound is very good, really enjoyed listening to this. All in all perfectly executed Brutal Death which has got far too few attention. Highly recommended underground stuff. 88%

Stabwound (SWE) - Human Boundaries (2004)

Country: Sweden (Gothenburg)

Released on: Brutal Bands

Tracklist:

 

1.     Molding Through Sloth     02:07      
2.     Devouring Deficiency     03:02      
3.     Red Worms Erected     02:32    
4.     Facial Skin and Tissue Removal     02:59    
5.     Trans Gender Mutilation     03:41    
6.     Disgorging Pieces of Broken Glass     02:05    
7.     Divine Gluttony     03:02    
8.     Morgue Abductions     02:29    
9.     Unspeakable Perversions     02:36    
10.     Aqualung     02:38    
      27:11      

Legendary Brutal Death Metal band Stabwound are one of the very best of their kind from Sweden. On their 2004 record Human Boundaries they convince with furiously grooving Brutal Death (not so much slamming as Soils of Fate, more the groove BDM à la Dying Fetus) with incredible vocals and interesting song writing. The vocal work is just amazing and perfectly fits together with the ultra-groove music. The production is a bit muddy but still good. The Swedish scene isn't the biggest, but with pearls such as Degrade, Soils of Fate, Stabwound, Obscene and others it really built up a good reputation.

This absolutely is a must have for every BDM fan. Too sad the band broke up.

95%