Annihilation - The Undivided EP (Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 4/11/2014

Label: Self Released

‘The Undivided’ EP track listing

1). The Undivided...(02:18)
2). Holographic Paradigm (06:40)
3).Transcending Consciousness (05:53)
4). Feeding the Void (04:52)
5). The Great Cycle (04:27)
6). ...Wholeness... (03:22)

Bio:

Portugal’s most recognised death metal act, Annihilation, are self-releasing their new EP The Undivided on November 4^th, 2014. Founded in early 2004, this six-track release of overpowering metal is the band’s follow-up to the 2010 debut, Against The Storm (Copro/Casket Records). A single from the EP, “The Great Cycle”, was released as a digital download a few months ago and a lyric video.

The band's founder Fabio Da Silva released the following statement about the EP:

"We are proud to announce the release of our new EP The Undivided. Consisting of six songs, the EP is a precursor to our next full-length which will be one song connected by three parts. We have been working on these songs for the last two years and there is a big evolution between this EP and our first album Against The Storm. The songs are more technical, dissonant and intricate then our debut album. Lyrically, I spent a lot of time researching and working on the lyrics. The EP and the album focus on my vision about humanity as energy beings all connected to one source of energy. One conscious entity that connects all beings into one.  An entity that has been separated from his source and originated the human species, the voyage of part of that consciousness when the human being faces death and finally connects again with the source."

The Band:

Fábio Silva | Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
Nuno Costa | Lead Guitar
Diogo Silva | Bass / Back Vocals
Ita dos Santos | Drums

Review:

Annihilation return, after their re-issue of ‘Against the Storm’ earlier this year, with this vicious EP comprising six tracks of (barring the drone intro) very unusual death metal. This release is precursor to their impending Full Length

Unique it certainly is. After the title track intro, ‘Holographic Paradigm’ surprised me hugely with slow sludge type metal giving way to blast beats, to tech-death worthy of Schuldiner himself! Over six and a half minutes is a long time in death metal, but these Portuguese masters make the time fly with twists and turns, bass and drums only sections and a very old school feel to the sound and riffs.

‘Transcending Consciousness’ is close to six minutes (with a one minute intro) of mayhemic death metal. Lots of rhythmical changes, growled vocals, thrash beats, breakdown sections... there is so much going on. Great jazz feel to the drums in places too- Cynic eat your hearts out!

The overall feel of the record is hard to place- it reminded me of something like Pestilence or even Morbid Angel at the more experimental end of their work; but really this is highly odd stuff with a unique stamp. Listen to ‘Feeding the Void’ if you want proof. ‘The Great Cycle’ is dramatic and rhythmically unusual as well as being lightning fast in places. ‘Wholeness’ completes (!) the record with a sound effect laden outro.

I really am intrigued to see where they go with their next release- it's the kind of thing that would have been called avant garde years ago (a bit like Celtic Frost were). There is a lot of music on offer here and this is not straightforward death metal by any stretch of the imagination. In places, it isn't death metal as you would normally describe it at all. That alone means you should check it out. Behold, a band pushing the boundaries of the genre and doing so with a good grasp on what made the genre great to begin with.

Words by: Richard Maw

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Annihilation - Against The Storm (Album Review)

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 26/12/2012

Label : Self-Release

Against The Storm, tracklisting :

1). Tortured with Hate 03:45

2). Contempt 04:16

3). Sacrifice of Existence 04:08

4). At War 03:05

5). Illusions of a Mirage 04:23

6). Atrocities 04:00

7). Hear Them 03:23

8). Kathairien 04:02

9). Disbelief 04:41

Bio :

"Against the Storm" the debut album of Portugal's Annihilation was originally released in 2011 on Casket records. The band is now releasing the album digitally on Bandcamp to build anticipation for their next album "The Undivided Wholeness Of All Things", which is due to be released in the summer of 2014.

The Band

Fabio Da Silva | Vocals, Guitars
Nuno Costa | Guitars
Diogo Silva | Bass
Ita dos Santos | Drums

Review :

Annihilation hail from Portugal. It appears from the very brief entry on the Encyclopaedia Metallum that this record was first released in 2011.  This is a quality slab of brutal death with a cool production and crystal clear sounds.“Tortured with Hate” blasts as it means to go on with precise beats and guitars. Double tracked vocals are a nice touch.

“Contempt” is just as speedy with a nice line in tempo shifting. The Morbid Angel-alike “Sacrifice of Existence” uses fast bass drums, and riffing with some slow tempos then uses blasts and thrash beats too- the whole band playing very cohesively, it has to be said. Death metal is difficult to play, but if you are technically competent it is easy to churn out boring rubbish. Thankfully Annihilation circumnavigates this pitfall by way of ringing the changes in each track and coming up with good riffs. “At War” is a prime example of this- yes it is brutal and nothing new, per se, but it also has something to it; good changes, great vocals and the stellar production all combine.

“Illusions of A Mirage” has a nicely thrashy start, followed by a more death metal flavour to the riffing keeping with the same tempos- good stuff. Naturally, the track does have the on-beat blasts in places, but once again it is the variety that lifts the track and by extension the record as a whole. Nice closed hi hat work is included here; a novelty in death metal, it has to be said and again illustrates the band doing things a little differently.

“Atrocities” starts slow and uses some rather angular riffing to get its point across. The subject and title are pure death metal with the vibe harking back to the early 90's; most welcome in my view.

“Hear Them” again recalled Morbid Angel a little for me- not a bad thing- and makes good use of the twin guitar format. Excellent riff around the two minute mark, as well.

“Kathairien” has a rather stylish opening with a kind of helical riff used before upping the tempo and then running through the gears. “Disbelief” uses a lengthy riff over short vocal stabs as it twists and turns. At just over 35 minutes, the album is the perfect length- there can be too much of a good thing where death metal is concerned and the nine tracks are of a consistently high quality and good duration. An engaging and high quality death metal release that will stand out the moment you stick the record on.

Words by : Richard Maw

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