ALBUM REVIEW: Obituary, "Dying of Everything"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/01/2023
Label: Relapse Records
 

“Dying of Everything” CD//CS//DD/LP track listing:
 
1). Barely Alive
2. The Wrong Time
3). Without a Conscience
4). War
5). Dying of Everything
6). My Will To Survive
7). By The Dawn
8). Weaponize The Hate
9). Torn Apart
10). Be Warned
 
The Review:
 
Obituary- Florida’s death metal merchants par excellence are back. If the last self-titled album was a rather anthemic collection of death metal, “Dying of Everything” is perhaps a little murkier and a little darker. I rated the previous album very highly- not least because it seemed energised and turbo charged in a way that, say, “Inked In Blood”, was not. The core of the band remains intact- Donald and John Tardy alongside the perennial axeman Trevor Peres. Most recent joining member, Ken Andrews, is firmly embedded here on guitar and pops up in the writing credits while the formidable low end of Death alumni Terry Butler fills out the line-up.
 
Obituary are a unique proposition within death metal. No one else sounds like them. They mix death, doom, mid tempo grooves and the inimitable vocals of John Tardy into a swampy concoction that is immensely heavy, occasionally catchy, sometimes fast but never hyper speed.
 
As is the band’s way, “Barely Alive” opens things here; it’s a characteristically speedy start with Don firing on all cylinders and the band sounding fired up. The production is massive- serious low end and large drum sizes coalescing to make a thunderous racket.
 
From there, the band runs through an admirable gamut of styles. “The Wrong Time” is catchy and grooves in the mid tempo range. “Without Conscience” is prime Obituary while “War” slows things down and echoes 1994’s “World Demise” with its pacing and main riff hammered home ad nauseum. Obituary’s appeal lies in their ability to come up with surprisingly straightforward and catchy songs; often repetitive but never boring- they are masters of their fairly minimalist craft.
 
Ever since “Slowly We Rot”, the band have trodden a different path to their peers. When other bands were getting faster and faster, Obituary slowed down even more. While classic records like “Cause of Death” yielded live staples like “Chopped In Half” and “The End Complete” offered up a particularly bleak and downtuned vision of the world, the band later records are just as compelling. “Frozen In Time” rules. “Xecutioner’s Return” was monstrously weighty, “Darkest Day” was prime Obituary, their self titled work was believed by many to be as defining as “SWR” and so on. The band have never really put a foot wrong- other than splitting up a couple of times… but even then the comeback records have been worth the wait.
 
The one thing that quality has bread is a difficulty to differentiate between albums and eras beyond the first. Much like Motorhead and Overkill- or even Cannibal Corpse closer to home, Obituary have never really made a bad album, but they remain defined to some fans by their earliest work. They have their own slot, their own groove and sound and remain one of a kind.
 
As “Dying of Everything” progresses, the band continue to do what they do best- simple riffing, massive drums, insane vocals… it’s all here. If you have listened to Obituary in the past and not been convinced or won over, it’s unlikely that this record will change that. If you have liked any of the band’s albums, you’ll like this one.
 
Whether you are here for the slow-paced crushing songs like “My Will To Live” or the slightly more sprightly “By The Dawn”, your tastes will be catered for. My only wish is that the band would put the pedal to the metal a bit more often. I like when Obituary speeds up and thrashes out. You are always guaranteed a fast opener, but it would be nice if the band exceeded the speed limit more often.
That said, you cannot argue with the double bass drum grooves of “Weaponize The Hate”, the swagger of the title track or any of the lead work on offer here. It’s prime Obituary- and very heavy indeed. The record concludes with “Torn Apart” and “Be Warned”- rounding out 45 minutes- or thereabouts- of Floridian death metal that is simultaneously familiar and brand new.
 
So where does this sit in the pantheon of Obituary records- now stretching back to the 80s(!). Hmm. I think that “Dying of Everything” is probably going to settle as a mid-table/high mid-table showing. It’s not as instant as the self-titled record and not as vicious as “Frozen In Time” but the songs are good throughout and it’s reliably heavy, murky, dark and with all expected Obituary-isms operating in the upper gears. If you like the band, it’s essential listening. If you have never heard Obituary (?!?) then you can pick this album and get the idea. There are few bands at the very top table of the death metal genre, Obituary reserved their place well over thirty years ago and remain there to this day. No mean feat.
 
“Dying of Everything” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Malevolent Creation. "The 13th Beast"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 18/01/2019

Label: Century Media Records

Resolutely traditional, old school Florida death metal with a modern production, iIn other words, for fans of the genre and band it is an absolute winner

“The 13^th Beast” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. End The Torture
2. Mandatory Butchery
3. Agony For The Chosen
4. Canvas Of Flesh

5. Born Of Pain
6. The Beast Awakened
7. Decimated
8. Bleed Us Free
9. Knife At Hand
10. Trapped Inside
11. Release The Soul

The Review:

Malevolent Creation are certainly one of death metal's old school elite and even with powerhouse vocalist Brett Hoffman gone, the band (Phil Fasciana and able cohorts) press forward. Lee Wollenschlaeger is a fine death metal vocalist, as is demonstrated by his opening growl on “End The Torture”- and he brings an almost NYHC aggression to his delivery. Once again, the sound is razor sharp, the production suitably brutal, the sound is timelessly death metal.

As is standard (now and then) the drums are triggered and thus audible in their intricacy. The sound is pro-toolsed and the performances are spot on. These days, you would be hard pressed to find the endearing amateur aggression present on some of the biggest bands' debut recordings, but what you get instead is machine like precision born of experience.

There are blasts aplenty (“Agony For The Chosen”), some very thrashy moments (“Mandatory Butchery”), plenty of shifting tempos (“Canvas of Flesh”) and all of these elements rearing their heads at various times in most tracks. Over the course of eleven tracks there is no real relaxation time- just straight ahead death metal. This is, though, so what did you expect?!

Try out “The Beast Awakened” if you want a flavour of the best elements of the record in one track (it slays!), but if you like Malevolent Creation you are pretty much guaranteed to like this album. Is it their best? To some listeners it will be, to some it will be “another” good MC album. That the band are keeping quality control high and are still putting out impressive records is highly commendable and something that cannot be said of many old-school bands.

That there is nothing new here goes without saying- “Decimated” would fit on any of their albums past or present- but death metal is a taste you develop and if the bug has bitten you in the past, suffice it to say that this album will satisfy all death metal needs and wants you may have.

As the album progresses through “Knife at Hand”, “Trapped Inside” and “Release The Soul” you will know exactly what kind of album this is: resolutely traditional, old school Florida death metal with a modern production. In other words, for fans of the genre and band it is an absolute winner. Enjoy.

“The 13^th Beast” is available HERE

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Obituary - "Obituary"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/03/2017
Label: Relapse Records

 

Obituary haven't sounded this deadly and taut for a long, long time, this is even better than “Inked In Blood”- itself an impressive record, A unique band in the genre.  Obituary have always stood apart from other death metal bands. They now stand above them again, too, because this is a death metal tour de force

 

“Obituary” CD//DD//LP track listing:

 1). Brave

2). Sentence Day
3). A Lesson in Vengeance
4). End it Now
5). Kneel Before Me
6). It Lives
7). Betrayed
8). Turned to Stone
9). Straight to Hell
10). Ten Thousand ways to Die
11). No Hope

 

The Review;

Obituary return with a focused and rampaging record here. If their last album, “Inked in Blood”, was an improvement on “Darkest Day” and “Executioners Return” (which it was), this has upped the ante again. Again, as per, the opener is a rager, just over two minutes of thrashing fury prior to another up tempo cut in “Sentence Day”. The production is raw this time around, raw and big sounding- closer to the band's live sound if anything. The drums in particular have a heavier attack with a rather pounding snare sound to be heard. There are solos too, lots of solos- with a more aggressive edge than has been heard from the band for some time.

By the time “Lesson In Vengeance” swings out of the speakers, you know this record is going to be a winner. Obituary haven't sounded this deadly and taut for a long, long time. The Tardy brothers are on fine form as usual, the bottom end is convincingly handled by Terry Butler (not the first time he has been involved in classic death metal) and Trevor Peres and Kenny Andrews prove again to be a deadly pairing. The death metal just keeps on coming here; “End It Now” brings both a positive message and a rolling, thrashing attack (just kidding on the positive part).

“Kneel Before Me” is another crushing groove- the whole album has this element. I can only describe it as Obituary, as heavy as normal but with a greater sense of... urgency. The slight increase in tempos are coupled with a large increase in intensity. The drums sound huge, the guitars saw away viciously and the bass truly rumbles. “It Lives” kicks off the second half of the album and brings some dark riffing and story telling to the fore; great track. “Betrayed” is simplicity itself in the riff department (echoing their heroes Celtic Frost) as the band lock tight into a groove. It has a very tasty solo as well.

“Turned To Stone” is absolutely par for the course Obituary- their doomier side, that is. An oppressively lurching, slow groove is what this one is all about. At ten tracks the band waste nothing; “Straight to Hel”l is the penultimate track and is surprisingly catchy for a song this late in an album. There is a slow section that is unexpected and welcome, again showcasing the doom tendencies that the band has always had, before a groove and riff showcase down the backstretch. The album closer, “Ten Thousand Ways to Die”, will be familiar to those who bought the EP of the same name last year, but it is a very strong track and finishes this death metal tour de force impressively.

This is even better than “Inked In Blood”- itself an impressive record. In fact, I think that this is the best Obituary record in a long, long time. A unique band in the genre as there are no blast beats, no reliance on speed and no gimmick per se. With a distinctive vocalist, a keen sense of actual song writing and a sound which manages to conjure up the oppressive environment of redneck Florida from whence the band hail, Obituary have always stood apart from other death metal bands. They now stand above them again, too.

“Obituary” is available to preorder/buy here

Band info: official || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Obituary - "Ten Thousand Ways to Die"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/10/2016

Label: Relapse Records

This is a death metal tour de force.

“Ten Thousand Ways To Die” CD//DD track listing:

1.Loathe
2.Ten Thousand Ways To Die
3.Redneck Stomp (Live – The Mayan – Los Angeles)
4.Centuries Of Lies (Live – The Masquerade – Atlanta)
5.Visions In My Head (Live – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore)
6.Intoxicated (Live – Revolution Center – Boise)
7.Bloodsoaked (Live – Irving Plaza – New York)
8.Dying (Live – Metro – Chicago)
9.Find The Arise (Live – Opera House – Toronto)
10.Til Death (Live – House Of Blues – San Diego)
11.Don’t Care (Live – Club Red – Phoenix)
12.Chopped In Half-Turned Inside Out (Live – The Ritz Ybor – Tampa)
13.Slowly We Rot (Live – Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale)

The Review:

Obituary, the heaviest band in the world, return with this: an album of two new tracks and ELEVEN live tracks. Effectively, this is a live album plus two new songs... or look at it the other way around. The first new track, “Loathe”, is low and slow with the band in doomy mood. Great sound, classic Obituary riffs, almost an instrumental. The title track is up next and it is a stomper. The band are focused and tight and deliver a bit of a classic. It will get your head banging and it stands up to anything they have done in the recent or distant past.

Having seen the band twice, I can honestly tell you that they are one of the best bands you can see. Even better than on record, I would say. The following eleven tracks from various shows on their “Inked In Blood” world tour are truly vicious. “Redneck Stomp” is one of the best metal instrumentals out there and really does sound like the title. A fantastic start. From there, the band give a solid run through of the best new material (“Visions In My Head”, for example) and go all the way back to “Find The Arise”, “Slowly We Rot” and “Chopped In Half”. This is a death metal tour de force. The amount of music here represents true value for money and you get to hear a Florida death metal band at the top of their game. Superb.

“Ten Thousand Ways To Die” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Six Feet Under - 'Crypt of the Devil' (Album Review)

By: Chris Markwell

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 05/05/2015

Label: Metal Blade Records

‘This is as pure a strain of death metal as you are ever likely to find: crushing, sawing guitar riots?  Check.  Throat-expanding guttural vocals?  Check.  Lurid, obscene song titles, including ‘Broken Bottle Rape’ and ‘Compulsion to Brutalize’?  Check mate.  If it’s classic death metal grooves you’re after, look no further.’

‘Crypt of the Devil’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Gruesome
2. Open Coffin Orgy
3. Broken Bottle Rape
4. Break The Cross In Half
5. Lost Remains
6. Slit Wrists
7. Stab
8. The Night Bleeds
9. Compulsion To Brutalize
10. Eternal in Darkness

Six Feet Under is:

Studio Band:
Chris Barnes | Vocals
Phil Hall |  Bass and Guitars
Josh "Hallhammer" Hall | Drums
Brandon Ellis | Lead Guitar

Live Band:
Chris Barnes | Vocals
Steve Swanson | Guitar
Jeff Hughell | Bass
Marco Pitruzella | Drums

The Review:

Sometimes, death metal just comes ripping up from the ground to grab you by the feet.  Six Feet Under just did that to me.  My poor Converse never saw it coming: just a rumble underground, then… darkness.  And beautiful, claustrophobic death metal enveloped me like a welcoming coffin.  Greet ‘Crypt of the Devil’, the latest offering from the Floridian four-piece, with a smile and a view to never see sunlight again.  Let me tell you all about it as I hammer the nails in…

May the 5^th of this year saw this fine piece of death metal hardware tearing up the airwaves like a deranged sous-chef.  10 tracks of the finest Sunshine State death metal, freshly-squeezed and ripe for the listening.  Take as needed for pain, frustration, heart problems… hell, just take the damn album already! 

This is as pure a strain of death metal as you are ever likely to find: crushing, sawing guitar riots?  Check.  Throat-expanding guttural vocals?  Check.  Lurid, obscene song titles, including ‘Broken Bottle Rape’ and ‘Compulsion to Brutalize’?  Check mate.  If it’s classic death metal grooves you’re after, look no further.  After all, if you think Chris Barnes and co. aren’t going to bring the very best in brutal music, there’s no need to check yourself.  You’ve already wrecked yourself. 

Let’s talk music.  Yes, I’ve just told you it ticks all the death metal boxes, but I haven’t told you how well it does so: ‘Crypt of the Devil’ is just… mind-blowing.  Following on from 2013’s ‘Unborn’ it sticks to that diabolical vein of music like a jagged needle in your arm.  Barnes himself has stated that he wrote these songs from the perspective of a serial killer, and he has gotten into that mindset with dark gusto.  Just have a listen to ‘Stab’ and feel that psychotic desire rush headlong at you.  Try listening to ‘Eternal in Darkness’ and not look over your shoulder in fear of the shadows behind you.  I dare you. 

‘Crypt of the Devil’ marks the inclusion of Phil ‘Landphil’ Hall (Cannabis Corpse) to the songwriting and creation process, so, personally speaking, this feels like a mini-evolution of Six Feet Under to me.  This album is dark, sadistic, and walks with a terrifying confidence amongst your music collection.  Get it while you can… but keep it away from any sharp objects.  Just in case. 

‘Crypt of the Devil’ is available here

Band info: Facebook | Twitter

Deicide - In The Minds of Evil (Album Review)

 

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 25/11/2013

Label : Century Media Records

 In the Minds Of Evil, album track listing

1. In The Minds Of Evil 03:53
2. Thou Begone 03:44
3. Godkill 03:11
4. Beyond Salvation 02:58
5. Misery Of One  03:22
6. Between The Flesh And The Void 03:55
7. Even The Gods Can Bleed 02:58
8. Trample The Cross 03:00
9. Fallen To Silence 03:10
10. Kill The Light Of Christ 03:30
11. End The Wrath Of God 03:14

Bio :

Always at the forefront of the death metal movement, DEICIDE was an original pioneer of the brutal sound and imagery associated with the Florida death metal scene. In 1987, Glen Benton and Steve Asheim teamed to launch one of the most talked about, controversial and venomous crusades in metal history and have since risen to international notoriety and released two of the highest selling death metal albums in the SoundScan era.

DEICIDE quickly became known for their technical yet brutal sound as much as the rumors that surrounded them. After famously marching into the office of Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records) and demanding “Sign us, you fucking asshole!” the band went on to create the definitive sound of 90s death metal thanks to their ability to play technical solos at blazing speeds with overlapping riffs. DEICIDE also created an astounding nine studio albums that have changed the face of the extreme metal scene. The message of Glen Benton and the incendiary writing of Steve Asheim proved the two of them to be the core of the band when lineup changes shook DEICIDE’s foundation in the early 2000s.

During this time, Asheim and Benton held DEICIDE together, adding Jack Owen (Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (Death, Iced Earth, Obituary) to their arsenal for the creation of the fiery and oft-championed “The Stench of Redemption”. Now, the band is gearing up to unleash their 10th slab of vehemently anti-Christian brutality – the effort also becomes their debut for Century Media, after inking to the label in 2009.

“To Hell With God” is the new album’s title – being produced by Steve Asheim and Glen Benton himself along with Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, Chimaira, Devildriver). The title shines light on exactly what fans can expect – a blasphemous hell ride with their favorite death metal veterans. This gargantuan album will see an early 2011 release and will be supported by the band with extensive touring and festival appearances already in the works.

No stranger to controversy, it is already apparent that DEICIDE will be the whipping post of the religious right with the album’s release due to its title alone. However, after 20+ years of playing songs such as “Fuck Your God”, “Kill the Christian” and “Behead the Prophet”, it’s quite apparent that these satanic stalwarts will continue spreading their message of hate and evil upon the masses. In fact, it can be seen as a testament of the band’s strength and refusal to conform to continue their blasphemous career after facing a copious amount of bans, fines and strife in the name of their art.

DEICIDE is back and stronger than ever – “To Hell with God” will surely prove this to the masses. As one of the original curators of death metal, DEICIDE are about to show the metal world just how brutal and unholy they can be. Are you ready?

The Band :

Glen Benton | Vocals/bass

Kevin Quirion | Guitar

Jack Owen | Guitar

Steve Asheim | Drums

Review :

Deicide, in my view, are death metal royalty- albeit with some rather controversial aspects. Without going into the more colourful/ridiculous features of front man Glen Benton's professional and personal life, suffice it to say that Benton is needed in the metal world as he provides outlandish statements both in songs and in interviews and thus stands out as a character that you love or love to hate- not too many bands can boast that these days.

 It would not be a huge stretch to suggest that most peoples' favourite Deicide album would be one of the first three releases. The debut was an out and out classic- a DM tour de force with a feral production. Things got slicker for “Legion” and “Once Upon The Cross” (my personal favourite) as very brutal and very blasphemous metal was delivered without mercy by four men who looked like they were straight out of the pages of a satanic redneck comic book.

Things took a turn in the late 90's with some average records until the storming comeback of “Scars of The Crucifix.” Sadly, soon after its release the hugely muscled Hoffman brothers were gone. Fans were concerned, the stories of threats/recriminations/steroid abuse/weapons arrests etc. did not exactly ease anyone's fears but the subsequent tour with Jack Owen (formerly of Cannibal Corpse) and Dave Suzuki (of Vital Remains) was a success and the band pressed on. “The Stench of Redemption” was a superb record and proved that it was drummer Steve Asheim, not Benton or the Hoffmans, who was the driving creative force of the band.

Since then, guitar maestro Ralph Santolla has been and gone, but Owen remains along with Asheim and Benton. Kevin Quirion rounds out the lineup. The band have kept the strong albums coming with “Til Death Do Us Part” and “To Hell With God.”

In The Minds of Evil thus opens with the title track and gives us exactly what we hope for; Asheim's fast but very steady drumming (excellent china usage!), fast riffing and surprisingly memorable hooks.

Thou Begone features the kind of crushing groove that Deicide excel at- they are a very rhythmical band-; could it be Asheim's influence again? Hyper fast sections follow as Benton truly excels himself. Indeed, his vocals over the whole album are excellent. Melodic leads abound while the main refrain marks itself out as being very strong indeed.

Godkill features excellent riffing and highlights the crystal clear production- everything can actually be heard very well and the vocals have excellent placing in the mix. The song titles and subject matter should surprise no one; Benton continues ploughing a very singular furrow. Clearly, the bible belt is still tight down in the less cosmopolitan areas of Florida- what is it about the southern-most state and death metal?!

Beyond Salvation features interesting pacing and guitar work while Misery Of One hurtles along with neck snapping intensity and features a VERY Deicide bridge section. Between The Flesh and The Void utilises harmony guitars and tuneful leads in the opening before picking up the pace...and then picking up again! The track fades out (you don't hear that too often these days) and is replaced by Even the Gods Can Bleed which stamps out a lasting impression.

Trample The Cross juxtaposes blast beats with slower and almost melodic riffs and leads to good effect (you may hear its title elsewhere on the album too- Glen is nothing if not consistent).

 Fallen To Silence ushers in the home stretch of the album with a marching sound and even more blasphemy. Superb lead breaks lift the track as the band shift through the gears.

Kill The Light of Christ again uses higher-on-the-neck riffing to open and grab the listener's attention before going for surprisingly catchy verse and chorus sections- one of Deicide's strengths has always been distinctive musical and lyrical motifs. This has always elevated them above their more humdrum DM competition- once again proving that you have to have the songs, not just the sound (incredibly, I have managed to avoid using the phrase “the devil has all the best tunes”... until now!)

End The Wrath Of God also ends the album and brings pummelling verse sections to bear alongside quicker bridge sections all utilising variations on the same refrain- again song-writing- before a middle section of hyper fast leads and tumbling riffs mesh with some nifty production tricks.

Overall, this is a very strong effort from a band that many would have predicted to no longer be around in 2013 (or even 2003, for that matter, considering Benton's “dead by 33” claims). Deicide are, in many ways, the AC/DC of death metal- they do what they do, they write about what they write about and they do not compromise. Deicide still have an impressive work rate when it comes to writing and releasing albums, though, and the energy levels and quality have not dipped. If you lost track of the band in the 90's or never bothered listening to anything after Eric and Brian Hoffman left or have never even checked the band out (is that possible?) then starting with “In The Minds of Evil” would be a fine remedy for your ills- it has the songs, the sounds and the flare to convert the non-believers into believers... or should that be the other way around? Quite simply, this is a great album from the satanic royalty of Florida death metal.

Words by : Richard Maw

You can buy it in Europe here  and the rest of the world here

 

For more information :

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDeicide

http://www.last.fm/music/Deicide