Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 16/4/2013
Label: Metal Blade
The Somatic Defilement, album tracklisting:
01 – Necrotizing
02 – The Somatic Defilement
03 – Devirgination Studies
04 – Prostatic Fluid Asphyxiation
05 – Fairy Fay
06 – Ear To Ear
07 – Alone in The Morgue
08 – Festering Fiesta
09 – Vicer Exciser
10 – Articulo Mortis
02 – The Somatic Defilement
03 – Devirgination Studies
04 – Prostatic Fluid Asphyxiation
05 – Fairy Fay
06 – Ear To Ear
07 – Alone in The Morgue
08 – Festering Fiesta
09 – Vicer Exciser
10 – Articulo Mortis
Bio:
Whitechapel's
debut full-length album, The Somatic
Defilement, is the album that firmly planted the band on an upward
trajectory that has carried the band to the upper echelons of modern death
metal. The band has taken The Somatic
Defilement and placed it in the capable hands of Audiohammer Studios
producer Mark Lewis for a complete re-mix and re-master. The results are
staggering and give The Somatic Defilementa modern luster up to the standards of the
band's most recent recordings. Fans can listen and pre-order now at metalblade.com/whitechapel.
The Somatic Defilement, originally released in 2007, is a concept album about Jack the Ripper's infamous murders of prostitutes in East London's Whitechapel district. This 2013 re-release sees the band tasking producer Mark Lewis to painstakingly bring the six year old recording to today's standard.
The band's latest effort, the self-titled album that dropped on June 19, 2012 in North America, debuted at #47 on the Top 200 Chart, #10 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, #3 on the Hard Music Albums Chart (Current), #2 on the Hard Music Albums Chart (Core Stores) and #64 on the Top Digital Album Chart.
Whitechapel was one of the most well received albums of 2012, with critical acclaim from some of the most respected music outlets including The New York Times,Alternative Press, Metal Hammer. The album also claimed bragging rights as the iTunes UK Metal Album of the Year for 2012!
The Somatic Defilement, originally released in 2007, is a concept album about Jack the Ripper's infamous murders of prostitutes in East London's Whitechapel district. This 2013 re-release sees the band tasking producer Mark Lewis to painstakingly bring the six year old recording to today's standard.
The band's latest effort, the self-titled album that dropped on June 19, 2012 in North America, debuted at #47 on the Top 200 Chart, #10 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, #3 on the Hard Music Albums Chart (Current), #2 on the Hard Music Albums Chart (Core Stores) and #64 on the Top Digital Album Chart.
Whitechapel was one of the most well received albums of 2012, with critical acclaim from some of the most respected music outlets including The New York Times,Alternative Press, Metal Hammer. The album also claimed bragging rights as the iTunes UK Metal Album of the Year for 2012!
Line up:
Phill
Bozeman — Vocals
Ben Savage —
Guitar
Zach
Householder — Guitar
Alex Wade —
Guitar
Ben
Harclerode — Drums
Gabe Crisp —
Bass
Review:
‘Yea,
though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death metal, I will fear no evil
riff…’
Ahhh, Whitechapel. Your 2012
self-titled album was hailed almost universally as a magnificent title, and
when you listen to it and its brutal tracks it’s easy to understand why. Hell, every album you’ve released on Metal
Blade has been a success, and deservedly so.
But this is 2013. And it has been
decreed that Whitchapel’s 2007 debut album, ‘The Somatic Defilement’, be
remastered and re-released on Metal Blade.
So, a much wider audience can be exposed to one of the most explosive
deathcore debuts ever, eh? Hey, George
Lucas! This is how you do a proper
remastering!
Now, let’s get to it: ‘The Somatic Defilement’ is a concept album, based
around Jack the Ripper’s notorious murders.
The intro song ‘Necrotizing’ is a sawing, claustrophobic piece with the
sounds of a woman breathing shallow adding to the coming nightmare. Then, a speech taken from a Jeffrey Dahmer
interview bleeds over the cacophony and that is the point when the terror
commences.
The title track kicks in straight after this with a pounding drum fill
and chugging, downtuned riffage; then there’s a guttural growl, so menacing
birds on the telephone wire outside my house flew away in fear. Then the darkness descended. This is a dark, sadistic track, and as
vocalist Phil Bozeman tells us here: ‘With the saw I maim. By the saw I live’. That seems to be the motto by which
Whitechapel create all their songs: and that is damn fine with me. As the song reaches its end, there’s a
totally unexpected flood of classical strings, which reminded me of the scene
in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ where Lecter has killed the two guards and is
standing, face smothered in blood, eyes to the sky and beautiful music filling
his ears. An eerily powerful way to end
such a vicious song.
Throughout
this album is a monumental sense of threat: from ‘Devirgination Studies’ slicing,
splitting guitars to ‘Vicer Exciser’’s roaring ‘I will spit right in your
fucking face!’, each song is a testament to murder and depravity. It’s like what would happen if Cannibal
Corpse were put in charge of the Saw franchise: if that’s not got you
interested, I don’t know what will! In
all honesty, these songs are heavier than a tombstone, and darker than the view
inside a coffin that’s six feet under.
This entire album is the aural equivalent of running through unknown
alleyways, desperately trying to find escape and salvation, all the while
knowing your fate has been sealed since you made the choice to enter. This is a killer record, inspired by killers;
and, when you listen to it, you will be left chilled, exhilarated, and
enlightened. This is a beautifully
remastered rendering of Whitechapel’s debut: Mark Lewis should be proud of his
work here. If you haven’t yet heard this
album, I urge you to change this state of affairs: your deathcore life may
depend on it…
Words by
: Chris Markwell
As always
show your support to the band. You can buy the record here and download
at the usual places. Thanks to Andy @ Metal Blade for the hook up as ever.
