By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 16/07/2018
Label: Doomentia Records
The very best death metal bands sound
disparate from one another and Zombiefication manage to inject a whole lot of
blackened sounding passages into their aural assault. For quality and unique death metal, look no
further that Zombiefication
“Below The Grief” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). Blood
Falls
2). Deliverance from the Astral Sea
3). Echoes of Light
4). Death to its Son
5). Heavy is the Crown
6). Hunger Undying
7). Sky Burial
The Review:
Four
years after “Procession Through
Infestation” and Five years after the absolute masterpiece of “At The Caves Of Eternal”, Mexico's finest
death metal export return with seven tracks of gnarly blackened death metal.
Once again, the focus is not on pro-tooled perfection, but is more towards a
dark atmosphere and real sounding drums.
The
sound is cavernous and the band has retained their unique and chaotic sound. I
noted last time around that Zombiefication don't really sound like any
other death metal band out there and this is a huge strength. The very best
death metal bands sound disparate from one another (you'd never mistake Obituary
for Deicide)
and Zombiefication
manage to inject a whole lot of blackened sounding passages into their aural
assault.
Opener
“Blood Falls”
is fast and furious, “Deliverance From
The Astral Sea” is tempered by slower riffing
and is hugely listenable with its fast passages and even a creepy clean
section. Huge drums open up “Echoes of
Light” and the band deliver a genuinely sinister atmosphere along with a
grinding chug. The eight and a half minute epic “From Death To Its Son” is the album's centrepiece and essentially
it combines all the good aspects of the band and throws them into one track-
the atmosphere, riffing, sound, anguished vocals and overall effect are great.
From
thereon, the album throws another three tracks at the listener- varied in their
approach but consistent in their dark atmospherics. “Heavy Is the Crown” is dark and features an experimental production
with serious use of dynamics. “Hunger
Undying” is similarly tar-like in vibe and execution with thick blast
sections. The album finishes with “Sky
Burial” which is as appropriate a way as any to finish this deliciously
dark and deep record.
For
quality and unique death metal, look no further. Viva Zombiefication!
“Below
The Grief” is available here
