Abolishment of Flesh- In the Presence of Darkness

 

Abolishment of Flesh is a death metal band from Texas. The band's first full length under the name Abolishment was much more of a relentlessly brutal affair but they've slowly dialed it back and gotten more into incorporating melody into the fold. Their past dabblings in more brutal territory give this album an interesting flair in it's approach, culminating into a pretty satisfying melting pot of death metal diversity. Some melodic tendencies, an old school semi technical leaning, and tastes of that nasty Texan brutality make for an interesting blend when all wrapped into one package. 

The guitar playing on this album is magnificent. There's plenty of moments scattered throughout featuring breathtaking leads and every solo is masterfully crafted to fit the riffs and grooves that surround them. The songwriting here displays a great deal of talent when it comes to creating beautiful melodies that blend effortlessly with the rhythmic attacks that they bounce back and forth with. The opening track starts right in with this approach which leads into a nice little clean break before transitioning to a pummeling groove that hits the spot. Early on Abolishment is dishing out some stuff that reminds me of mid era Death and that is certainly not a bad thing. 

The track "Behind Deceitful Eyes" uses vocal layering to great effect. Vocally this album is actually fairly diverse. The main approach is a standard growl with some screams mixed in. The layering is used sporadically and there's also some shrieks here and there. The title track has some unexpected cleans thrown in and surprisingly they work quite well and actually pop up on what I would consider a standout track on the album. The aforementioned layering really creates a nice, menacing tone throughout the duration of the record and adds some bite to many moments without going overboard with it. 

When "Self Righteous Regurgitation" hits with it's slam inducing opening riff the album kicks into high gear. Everything becomes a bit more sharp and dangerous for a bit moving forward. Regardless of the level of hostility Abolishment is working at the solos never fail to be masterfully crafted. The title track kicks off with some awesome tapping that paints the picture of one tumbling into a bottomless pit where some beast awaits. An epic simplistic groove follows that allows the events to play out. 

Overall In the Presence of Darkness is a pretty damn solid display of death metal goodies. These guys dish out a nice little smorgasbord of death metal variety proficiently. They nail the Death worship early on and weave in their earlier brutal death metal influences in a cohesive way that really works. Their previous albums were solid in terms of songwriting but the production typically left something to be desired. With this latest effort the murkiness that brought them down in the past has been cleared up. There's enough diversity here that the album should appeal to most death metal fans regardless of their preference when it comes to the details. It also closes out with an absolutely sick cover of a Sepultura classic. JAM IT!!!

Afterbirth- Four Dimensional Flesh

Afterbirth is a brutal death metal band from New York making strides to add new layers to the genre. The band released one 4 track demo back in 1994 only to vanish into obscurity shortly after. After a long hiatus they reformed and dropped another demo back in 2014 and followed it up with a well received album in 2017. The year is 2020 and Afterbirth make their triumphant return with Four Dimensional Flesh. Don't let the band name fool you, these guys are playing some brutal death metal but it is far from a run of the mill, dime a dozen releases that seemingly drop everyday. Four Dimensional Flesh while still bringing the brutality, almost feels like a journey of sorts.

"Rooms to Nowhere" is my personal favorite from the album, although I will say it is very hard to pick just one. The strange guitar part towards the mid-section of the track has been forever embedded in my memory since first listen. There's little moments like this sprinkled all throughout the album that really make it stand out from the pack. The band effortlessly keeps the listener guessing and manages to build an atmosphere while still staying in the realm of a genre that is built almost exclusively on crushing the listener at all costs. The drumming is masterful and really the backbone that holds everything together. The whole album gives the feeling of rushing through a maze where every corner holds another monstrosity, but, occasional you take a turn and run into something beautiful. Well, maybe not beautiful exactly, but there is some refreshing breaks from the controlled chaos occasionally spattered in there for good measure.

Overall Four Dimensional Flesh is a breath of fresh air for the genre. While I've always loved me some knuckle-dragging brutal death, it's nice to see a band coming to the forefront offering something much more dynamic than what one would normally expect. The band manages to add progressive tinges to one of the most brutal a primitive styles of music known to man. This one may even be a good gateway album for someone looking to get into the subgenre, as I could see many people who typically don't gravitate towards the more brutal stuff finding something to love here. If you go back and listen to their 1994 demo it is shocking to see the development Afterbirth has had since then. All too often we see bands that vanished into obscurity in the 90's come back and release a subpar album. Afterbirth bucks that trend and I think most would be hard pressed to find another band make a return quite like they have. The demo they'd released back in the day was pretty awesome, especially for the time, but these past two full lengths are a whole different beast altogether. I highly recommend anyone into extreme metal in genre give this a listen along with the previous full length! It will be very interesting to see where the band goes next. Definitely a name to keep a look out for in the future! GET IT!!

Amputation Spree- Three/Inferno EP

Amputation Spree is a one man brutal death metal band from North Carolina. We've covered all this projects releases in the past and have heard them grow consistently over such a short period of time. Having only been around since 2010 this marks their third EP and they even managed to squeeze a split in between all of that. Even though it seems just like a blink of an eye since their last EP, the material here does not falter in anyway. In fact, it does quite the opposite.

With each release Amputation Spree's sound seems to get more epic. This EP is no different, it takes everything heard previously on Terminal Velocity and takes it to a completely new level. The tracks here just seem more focused overall. The way they are written just seems to flow much more naturally than on previous releases. The brutality the project has had in the past is still in attendance. "The Whore of Babylon" has a section that slams your brain to mush, reinstating that the music hasn't been watered down, it has just evolved. Every track actually features a moment like this, it is made certain that Amputation Spree hasn't completely abandoned it's roots.

The experimentation gets taken a couple steps further on the track "The Age of Reason". It all starts out normal, blasting your eardrums senseless for the first thirty seconds or so, and then out of nowhere things stop and everything changes so rapidly it is almost hard to digest at first. The song bounces back and forth quite a bit and never really sticks to one thing for too long. Showing off some electronic experimentation this track is definitely the most interesting of the bunch. It is clear when listening to this that if Amputation Spree ever had a comfort zone in the first place it is long gone at this point.

"Messiah" has such a gigantic sound. Built around an extremely simple structure it is honestly surprising how well this seven minute track holds up. Hands down the heaviest track that Amputation Spree has putout thus far and possibly the most infectious. This track also brings to my attention how well the drum programming works for this release. Typically if something doesn't feature a live drummer it gets on my nerves after a few listens. With that being said, in this EP's case it may actually work as a positive thing. The robotic feeling the drums give off works almost perfectly with the sound created on this release.

Overall Three/Inferno displays Amputation Spree making all the right moves. Continuing to build on the solid foundation of previous efforts there is absolutely nothing to complain about here. The sound on this EP may be an extremely different animal when compared to what we heard on Addicted to Beheading Children, but if you dig deep enough some elements are still intact. Fans of brutal death metal that aren't afraid of a little experimentation being thrown in the mix NEED this. Even those who don't typically journey into the world of slam will find this EP to be an intriguing listen to say the least. Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.

Thirst Of Revenge- Annihilation Of Races

Thirst Of Revenge is a one man brutal death metal band from Spain. Some may be familiar with Carlos Mejias from the first two Human Mincer albums (on which he took on vocal duties). This is the second Thirst Of Revenge full-length since the projects inception back in 2006. Originally in 1999, the project was named Cerebral Torture but due to the other band Carlos was involved with no material ever surfaced. The album clocks in at around thirty minutes. Ultimately the perfect runtime for a brutal death metal album.

Essentially Annihilation Of Races is a concept album about the end of the world, or the human race that is. The story basically opens up with some mysterious sightings and it becomes evident the aliens are among us. They visit and begin experimenting on humans. Eventually they find a way to blend their blood with ours and form a hybrid alien to wipe-out the human race whilst going undetected to the untrained eye. The lyrics are very simple but the concept comes across well and it actually makes for an interesting story. Considering the fact that these lyrics were translated to English for the album it is fairly surprising that nothing got lost in translation.

The pace of the album is very fast for the most part. This makes certain sections start to blend together at times. Luckily this doesn't happen often enough to be a large detriment to the albums overall replay value. The riffs don't really come off as memorable but they have impact while listening. Tremolo riffs are dished out in large amounts along with pummeling grooves. Nothing overly technical but it is far from a constant chug-fest.

The vocals mainly consist of gutturals. An occasional scream in thrown in the mix to spice things up a bit, but the vocal approach is extremely primitive all around. The drum machine works much better on this release than it has in the past. They sound more convincing all around. On the previous EP they were far too high in the mix and almost made it a chore to listen to. Here, while they are still fast and intense they fade more into the background and it is easy to focus on the other aspects of the music.

Overall Annihilation Of Races is a decent record. There isn't really anything groundbreaking going on here but it is enough to keep ones interest. In terms of more recent brutal death metal releases this one falls somewhere near the top of the stack. There is plenty of room here for improvement, but considering the endless number of low rent, one man brutal death bands out there this is quite the breath of fresh air. Brutal death fans should give this one a listen, you're going to get what you expect. No frills, barbaric one man blasting brutality.

Venereal Messiah- Bleeding The Humans

Venereal Messiah is a brutal death/goregrind band based in New York. The band has been around since 2005 and have released a few demos and splits during their time together. The band features Barret Amiss II, the owner of the very prolific death/grind label Sevared Records, on vocals. This release features eight tracks and clocks in at just under twenty minutes. Though the album may be short plenty of time is given for Venereal Messiah to get their blunt point across.

Unlike many bands of this nature Venereal Messiah doesn't just hide behind a wall of noisy, half assed grooves. There are plenty of heavy grooves to be had on Bleeding the Humans but they rarely come across as half assed. The guitar tone featured here is kind of detrimental to the overall sound, it just seems kind of flat most of the time. Adding some thickness to it would help give the riffs more impact in the future. Luckily the lack of power in tone is made up at times with catchiness (see the repetitive but effective "Oral-Fistula Transmission").

One thing that is unique about Venereal Messiah is that they feature a dual bass assault. Getting audible bass is a rare occurrence in the first place, having two different bassists plucking away is almost unheard of. Bass heavy tracks like "Gynacide" definitely come across as a breath of fresh air when they make an appearance. With the bass being so high in the mix the way they mesh with the guitars is almost reminiscent of early One Step Beyond (though they are worlds apart in style). The lack of power in the guitar tone is pretty much completely redeemed by the fat, creeping bass lines that are so prevalent in the overall sound.

The vocals are made up mostly of guttural burps and gurgles. These are the type of spews that are sure to trigger violent flashbacks to your last case of explosive diarrhea (in a good way of course). There is a major lack in variation but fans of the genre should be used to that at this point. That being said an occasional more traditional growl is thrown into the mix keeping things from growing entirely stale in the vocal department.

Overall Venereal Messiah has a solid chunk of brutal death on their hands with Bleeding the Humans. This is far from being groundbreaking by any means but they deliver the goods and fans of the genre will be more than pleased. If you find yourself enjoying most of the stuff Sevared puts out this will most likely sit nicely in your collection. This is a band that is worth keeping an eye on, they show quite a bit of potential here and with some minor tweaks they could definitely put out an excellent, punishing release.

Perversity- Ablaze

Perversity is a death metal band from Slovakia. These guys have been pumping out solid music since their first demo in 1997. They go through members like clockwork, this album features both a guitarist and a bassist that are new to the band. This is their first release since we last heard from them on their 2008 album Beyond the Reach of Heaven. They seemed to be improving and it proved to be my favorite full-length from them thus far. Though their original demos were very appealing to me I could never seem to enjoy their full releases near as much. With Ablaze that has changed.

For the most part Ablaze is still made up of your standard death metal elements. It basically falls under the brutal category, with that being said it isn't an all out slam album. There are some tracks that stick out in a big way, one example of this is the chaotic "Devoted to Perdition". The track starts off with an extremely groggy, overwhelmingly heavy groove that slowly builds in terms of intensity. Although it may be easy to pick out the influences that inspired this track it still manages to be the best on the album, and it would be interesting to see Perversity dive a little deeper into this aspect of their sound.

The bass is audible the entire course of the record. In fact the first track even opens with a bass solo. The tone is fairly vibrant and punchy when it is called for. It is subtle enough that it shouldn't be too bothersome for people who don't enjoy heavy bass emphasis in their metal. The vocals mainly consist of gutturals. On occasion some tortured yells are incorporated that sound eerily similar to John Tardy's trademark wail (see "Merciless Messiah"). In terms of variation there isn't a whole lot to write home about here but also nothing to complain about. The growls are delivered with power and fit well with the instrumental output of Perversity.

Another thing that stands out on this record is the piano use. It is only incorporated on its own on the intro and the opening of "Necrophiliac Beast". The piece that was used to introduce the track "Necrophiliac Beast" is extremely odd sounding when put into the context of the album. The intro almost sounds like something that belongs on a pop album. Somehow, in a very strange way, it works and is a breath of fresh air that plays sort of like an intermission for Ablaze.

Overall Ablaze may be Perversity's greatest release to date. There is just enough brutality and energy here to put them above a good portion of the endless amount of bands that play this style of music. Perversity has shown that they have matured their songwriting a vast amount within the time between albums. This album may not be completely unique, but it packs one hell of a punch and definitely displays a bit more diversity in sound compared to the past releases. Fans of death metal should give this one a listen. It may not be the first album that I reach for when I go on a death metal binge, but it certainly isn't an album I'm going to let collect dust either.

Cognitive- Demo 2011

Cognitive is a four piece band from New Jersey. They formed in 2011 and have already released this three track demo and have plans of recording a five song EP in the near future. They play what can best be described as technical death metal, but there are clearly strong influences from other styles coming through. This demo clocks in at just over eight minutes, but Cognitive manages to cram plenty of quality material in this short amount of time. They realize that first impression is a big deal and they pull absolutely no punches within the short runtime of this release.

The guitar playing is insanely tight from start to finish. Many slamming grooves are scattered throughout the three tracks but things are always kept interesting and you never find yourself feeling even a hint of boredom. The solos featured on the demo are amazing and they always fit the song perfectly. "The Horrid Storm" has one of the most effective solos I've heard in quite some time. The tracks builds up slowly, reaches its climax and then fades out with a solo that can only be described as flawless. The track "Falling Skies" has some very tasty bass playing which is another aspect of Cognitive that puts them above and beyond. The bass is audible for a good portion of the release and there is a constant flow of awesome bass playing, whether it be during the punchy section in "Separation Anxiety" or during the solo moments on "Falling Skies".

All three of the songs differ from each other in many ways. At times things are just straight up brutal and groovy as hell and then all of the sudden they will break into a proggy section. Each track has one thing in common though, they are all well crafted and executed with deadly precision. On occasion you expect a song to go a certain way and they throw a curveball and it goes into a completely different direction, but somehow they manage to keep everything cohesive and they never go far enough into left field to make you lose interest. Ramirez's brutish vocals push the intensity to the max and he delivers every single line with the utmost power. Castro's drumming also adds a great deal to the overall sound. He is able to pummel the kit when necessary (see "Separation Anxiety") but he can also hold back when it is needed (see "The Horrid Storm").

Overall Cognitive have created an excellent demo. It may only be three tracks but it is definitely enough for me to put them on my "bands to watch" list. The potential shown here is fairly promising. They already have a pretty distinguishable sound which is very rare for a band just starting out. Fans of any variation of death metal should check this out, it is up for free on the bands facebook page and is definitely worth a listen.

Gorgy- Birth of Damnation

Gorgy is a death metal band from Kentucky. They formed back in 2008 and Birth of Damnation marks their first full-length release. Filled with large doses of heaviness and fun samples Gorgy is sure to gain some fans with this album. Upon first listen you will immediately find that you have a strange urge to punch all nearby pillows, do not fear, this is a common side-effect that comes with exposure to Birth of Damnation.

The album clocks in at just under thirty minutes and there is absolutely no time for filler. All the tracks have certain qualities that make them stand apart from one another. It is clear when listening that the band spent time crafting these tracks to be the best they could possibly be. None of the riffs or solos sound out of place and everything in general is just on point from start to finish.

The guitar tone suits the album perfectly. It is nice and chunky when it needs to be and the solos sound amazing. The album is packed full of killer grooves and catchy fast sections. The bass is almost easy to mix because of how overpowering the vocals are but if you listen closely you will discover it is actually fairly high in the mix. Millers vocals fit the bands sound perfectly. He has an extremely guttural growl but it is also very easy to decipher what is being said for the most part. There are a few different variation in the vocal styles used and to top it off there is quite a bit of layering spread throughout.

All the songs featured on Birth of Damnation have there moments that separate them from one another. "3rd Degree Sodomy" has that spastic, violent feel while maintaining it's catchiness, while other tracks like "Welcoming the Gore" just go right in for the kill and bring the brutality to the fullest. If there is one thing all the tracks have in common though it is the fact that they are all catchy. The tremolo picked sections will stick with you after listening and after a listen or two you will probably even find yourself singing along while listening.

Overall Gorgy's debut does not disappoint. This release is nearly thirty minutes of blazing death metal brutality, nothing less, nothing more. This album won't change the minds of people who despise death metal but it will definitely give all the fans a neck workout. There is absolutely nothing to complain about and hopefully the potential shown on this debut will continue to grow on future releases. With a name like Gorgy what's not to like?

Beeravore- Alcoholics Unanimous

Beeravore is a death metal band from Georgia. They formed back in 2007 and have put out a couple of releases since. If you can't tell by the band name, album name, and song titles these dudes enjoy their alcohol. That being said they don't just sit around getting wasted all the time. They sit around, get wasted, and write killer death metal records. When all is said and done you get what you should expect, 30 minutes of alcohol loving death metal.

The guitar tone on this record is nice and thick. Each groove packs as much of a punch as the last and every single riff is played the perfect amount of time. Everything on the album is musically sound. They have found the perfect balance when it comes to taking time to emphasize the groove and technicality and somehow in between all of that they manage to make it all very catchy. The bass is also audible throughout on this release and it thickens up the sound a great deal.

Beeravore proves that they can handle the speedy approach at death metal but on tracks that take the more crushing route like "Antifreeze Snowcone" is when they really shine the most. Little moments like the calm break in the middle also really help the albums flow. That being said the band never steps too far out of their comfort zone and with the style being played here stepping too far from the comfort may throw everything off. The pace changes up enough to keep the listening experience fresh from start to finish so it doesn't really effect the quality of the album much in the end.

Overall Beeravore have created an extremely fun, heavy album with Alcoholics Unanimous. The subject matter of the album may be pretty lighthearted for the most part but anyone who denies Beeravore's ability to write a solid death metal song is senile. The music is always top notch and tightly played. I can honestly only see their sound improving in the future. Fans of death metal in general should check out this album. It is extremely consistent and fun enough to maintain its replay value after multiple listens. Get it.

Regurgitation- Clitoraldectomy

Regurgitation is a brutal death metal band from Ohio. They formed back in 1994 but their amount of output would suggest otherwise. The band only has one full-length to this date. Clitoraldectomy is their last release since their 1999 album Tales Of Necrophilia. This was originally a demo but it didn't see an official release until Comatose got the chance to put it out this year. Clitoraldectomy consists of four brutal tracks along with a particularly badass Suffocation cover.

This release pummels the listener and never lets up in the slightest. The guitar playing is very precise and there are even a few killer solos thrown in for good measure. There are only a couple of really heavy "beatdown" moments featured on this release and for the most part it just goes full speed ahead. Really the fretwork here is fairly diverse and there are plenty of different techniques being used in the short runtime to keep the listener more than entertained. The bass can be made out a good portion of the time and we even get a brief bass solo during the title track.

The mixing on this release leaves a little bit to be desired. The drums overpower pretty much everything else and at times it can take its toll on the overall listening experience, nothing too serious though. The vocal styles used here range from deep gutturals to some rough sounding screams. The raspy vocals that were used frequently on the previous album also make a few appearances on this release along with some standard death metal growls. In the end Baxter shows a pretty solid range and holds down in the vocal department.

Overall if you are in search of straight up brutality Clitoraldectomy has more than enough to offer you. Regurgitation spent the time between the release of Tales Of Necrophilia and this tightening up their sound as much as possible and the end result is awesome. Fans of brutal death metal should check this one out as well as fans of the band's previous full-length. Fans of the previous full-length should be warned that the sound displayed here is alot cleaner than what was shown on Tales Of Necrophilia. A second full-length titled Cliterctomy is planned to be released in the future but whether it will released as a Regurgitation album or a Necrotic Disgorgement album is unsure.

Sikfuk- Shitfisted Superman... The Man Of Stool

Sikfuk is a one-man band that formed back in 2001. This is the third full-length from Nikfuk's sick little project. For those unaware, Sikfuk plays a very brutal style of music that is referred to as "tardgrind". A few demos and a split have been released by him too. Needless to say Nikfuk has been in the game for awhile now and has had his fair share of time to sculpt Sikfuk's vomit worthy sound. Just like any other Sikfuk release you will be bombarded with hilarious samples and gross song titles. Also the booklet for the album has a special piece of nastiness drawn up for each track.

The guitar playing is groovy as hell from start to finish as usual. For the most part the chaotic feel that Teabagged At Birth had is missing on this release, but the slams are just as catchy as before and match the rhythm of the vocals almost flawlessly. The guitar tone used on the album isn't as thick very thick. This kind of takes some of the impact out of the slams that are almost constant. It doesn't detract too much from the overall quality but it wouldn't hurt if the tone was beefed up more on the next release.

Nikfuk has some of the most vile sounding gutturals ever recorded. His vocals bring images of shit and other bodily fluids to mind almost immediately. The burps are delivered with an infectious rhythm. They just fit perfectly, I couldn't picture any other style being used here. As with most of the one-man brutal death bands out there Sikfuk does feature a drum machine. In this albums case it isn't a make or break situation, the drum programming is actually pretty believable and well done.

Overall this "oozing, dripping shit, spackeled piece of shit" is good in my book. A fair warning to people who have yet to experience Sikfuk, try before you buy, this isn't going to be everyones thing. In fact a good portion of people will probably find everything about this album completely repulsive, disgusting, and unlistenable. Fans of Sikfuk should have a good time with this though, with that being said this doesn't top their last album Teabagged At Birth. In all honesty in the end fans will get the same disgusting, scat inducing brutal death/tardgrind they have come to expect from Sikfuk.

Interview with Ken Padilla of Impaled Offering

Impaled Offering is a three piece band from New Mexico that plays a sickening blend of grind, death metal, and black metal. They were just recently signed to Pathologically Explicit Records and they plan on putting out their debut full-length soon. In this interview we discuss the history of the band, DIY merch, and many other things with the band's guitarist Kenneth Padilla.

Foul Feast: How did Impaled Offering come about?

Ken Padilla: Impaled Offering came about, shortly after I saw Ben Segural(Drums) Playing with his old band Virulency. I was extremely impressed with his skills, weeks after that show, he left Virulency. Right away I got in contact with him. The 1st time we jammed was at my friend Dom Dimas of Torture Victims house after a Warbringer show, we just messed around with random jams to test one another out, the guys from Warbringer thought we had been a band for a while, that basically told us we had something and to continue jamming, shortly after we picked up Joseph Chavez on Bass and Vocals. Joseph picked up the songs quickly and was more than a perfect fit. Thus Spawning Impaled Offering

FF: You guys recently got signed to Pathologically Explicit Recordings, how do you feel Impaled Offering fits in with the rest of their roster?

Ken Padilla: Well that's a hard one cause ,now we have to prove our work, due to the wicked line up Pathologically Explicit records contains , I mean fucken Gortuary is on it, Flesh Throne, Iniquitous(mike smith of Suffocation drums for them), Human Rejection and more............ I guess the way we do differ is we are the only Progressive blacken Deathgrind band on the label.

FF: How long had you been together before the label picked you up? And had you guys been in contact with any other labels before this?

Ken Padilla: We where a active band for about 9 months before we got picked up, so it was a pretty quick process from being local to signed ,Especially for a New Mexico band, not many labels look this way. Yeah we did send a lot of facebook links and demos out to various labels, the only one that actually talked to us 1st was Severad Records, but it didnt go through. Maybe a month later we contacted Pathologically Explicit Recs and Fernando offered us the deal. All I gotta say is thanks to the awesome extreme scene we are part of, all the cool peeps we have networked , or worked with. Without such a down to earth scene we would have never got so many fans and friends in such a short time.

FF: In the past you guys have made your own merch, now that you are on a label is that going to change or are you going to keep going the DIY route?

Ken Padilla: Our merch sich was crazy and still is at the moment, we just made a one color screen printer and printed very limited shirts and patch’s(and now our screen printers dead), so we will be getting merch help from the label, and hope to have merch on the labels site and at shows soon. I believe we will continue doing a lot on our own once we get more revenue

FF: How has the demo been received so far?

Ken Padilla: So far we haven’t got any thing but awesome feedback on it, and none of the feedback has been negative so far, the only thing we personally where not happy with was the quality of the recording, but it gets the idea out for now

FF: It's clear when listening to the demo that you guys aren't afraid to break barriers and you can't really be boxed into one particular genre. Is this something that plays a role in the writing process for Impaled Offering or does it just come naturally?

Ken Padilla: Well its a bit of both sometimes, due to the riff, tempo ,and genre changes. The riff writing itself comes naturally , putting the puzzle together that’s the more involved process. The way we approach every song is by not letting any riff sound the same or even use the same patterns, make sure it flows, and never repeating riffs in a song. I also have had a philosophy for a while, on the sound I want to create, I believe death metal should create chasms of sound that replicate transcending life and death , it's chaotic and savage but at the same time contains a certain elegance. So it's not just about being brutal, our writing style calls for a certain amount macabre, dissonant and tech tones.

FF: The plan is to have your first full-length out in 2012 according to the labels site. Has the writing process for the album started yet?

Ken Padilla: The album itself is ready to go to the studio, besides two songs in need of lyrics, we plan on releasing an album with 7 fully written songs, 5 on the spot grind tracks(we play 4 made up on the spot grind tracks every show to involve fans and friends on vocals), and 3 sound scape tracks. The only thing holding us back now the money to go record in a real studio, we plan on recording either at Arcane Studios in Arizona, or the the studio Noisear recorded Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

FF: Within your short time together you have already had a chance to share the stage with some brutal bands, is there any show that comes to mind that stood out the most?

Ken Padilla: I helped Cephalic Carnage run their Vapor fest 2011 in ABQ , due to the fact that they had to cancel coming down, and it was awesome meeting Disgorge US, and Rottenness of Mexico, there where also 7 other local acts on it that all killed it. But in general House party’s are the funnest to play cause they're so personal, and the energy’s right there in your face.

FF: Is the metal scene down in New Mexico strong?

Ken Padilla: The New Mexico scene is starting to build up, but it is still very weak. We have some wicked bands out here (Noisear, Torture Victim, Suspended, Dread, Laughing Dog, Intoxicated,Echoes of Fallen, Daemonius) and a hand full more, the bands mentioned back each other as much as possible. But the problem with New Mexico is a lot of bands say they wanna do it but don’t put in the effort, or make contacts, and also hate on every other band in town instead of making a strong scene

FF: Is doing a tour after the full-length release something you could see happening?

Ken Padilla: Yes we really want to get one going, at the moment our friend Joe Tapia bassist/vocalist of Noisear (Relapse Rec) wants to help us book a tour in the summer of 2012, due to the tons of huge bands and venues the guy knows . He has been a huge help in getting us connects and a great mentor to me personally, so I send mad props out to him, he will also be doing guest vocals on the album.

FF: Are any of the members of Impaled Offering in other bands that are active at the moment?

Ken Padilla: At the moment no, but we do play and listen to a vast variety of genres outside the the Extreme scene, just to keep our mind fresh and creative, such as jazz(not elevator)Folk,Classic rock, Bluegrass,Underground hip hop, World musics, Classical ect................

FF: Any final thoughts?

Ken Padilla: Just want to say support your local bands, the scene , throw any deathcore albums you may own in the trash , and pick up some real shit, grind, crust, punk, thrash, death metal, doom, metal, black metal ect.... get out to shows staying at home and just buying albums don’t support touring bands or the scene in general. Also shout out to all the Tyrants we hang with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Face of Oblivion- The Embers of Man

Face of Oblivion is a technical death metal band from Minnesota. The band formed in 2009, that same year they released a three song demo. Two years later (now) they are back to bring their brutality to the masses with their first full-length from Comatose Music. The record clocks in at thirty minutes total and the band shows no sign letting up throughout the entire listening experience. Right from the start it is easy to think that you are about to sit through another average slam record but about a minute in the track takes a turn into chaos and the first impression is set.

Both Hensley and Bohlman hold it down in terms of the fretwork featured here. The playing is water tight throughout and even with the crazy complex playing they know how to craft an actual song. At no point does this come off as an all out wankfest. These guys definitely have chops but they also have the ability to hold back and create something that is actually cohesive. One of the best things about this album is the bass. It is completely audible the entire time and if Cole Gunthers playing doesn't get your full attention, you're dead. The bass being so loud in the mix gives the album a very frantic feeling. This is extremely noticeable during the fast moments on the record. Each hit of bass hits you like an adrenaline rush when these sections show up.

The vocalist sticks to two styles for the most part. He has a very low guttural and some vicious highs. Neither approach is anything groundbreaking but he does his part and delivers the vocals with power. Being familiar with some of his work with other bands in the past though, I got what I expected, a badass, brutal performance. There are also a few awesome "chanty" moments on here, the first track is the most noteworthy. Ogar has a very interesting drumming approach on this album and refrains from the constant blasting you typically hear in the genre. A good portion of his playing is rather slow and then he hits with sudden bursts of speed. It makes the listening experience fresh and he most definitely deserves credit for not going the lazy route.

Many people complain that the technical brutal death style is very dull and boring, and a good portion of the time I would have to agree. On many of these releases the playing is amazing but after awhile it grows old and it seems they are just showing off rather than creating quality tracks. This is NOT the case with The Embers of Man. These tracks have ridiculous replay value, and even getting to the point where I know the album like the back of my hand I still find myself headbanging just as enthusiastically as I was the first time I gave it a listen.

Overall Face of Oblivion is dressed to impress on their debut. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see these guys get a wide following soon, they have an excellent sound going here and I can't see any reason why fans of technical/brutal death metal wouldn't dig this. Highly recommended for fans of technical death metal and/or brutal death metal.

Reign Of Vengeance- Disemboweling Swine

Reign of Vengeance brings the chaos with Disemboweling Swine. The band formed back in 2005 and released an EP in 2007. This is their first full-length and it is clear with song titles like "A Massacre Of Mormons" and a cover displaying an officer of the law being robbed of his insides that the band isn't out to make any friends. On top of all that it is released by Brain Damage Music, so,  needless to say this album is a big slab of horrifying brutal death metal. 

Reign of Vengeance music is very complex and technical without a doubt. They don't take it too far like many other bands out today though. They still keep their focus on creating a solid song and not just writing a series of crazy, over the top tapping moments. It can at times be chaotic but it is always very calculated and done with a major amount of precision. The tone works wonders and can be crushing when needed but also very sharp and clear. The solos featured on the album are always highlights. Gibbons can set the frets on fire and he makes it very clear with this release.

Not only does this album feature some great guitar playing, the bass also shines throughout. This is to be expected when you have Nick Schendzielos (of Cephalic Carnage) plucking away. The majority of the tracks wouldn't be nearly as interesting without some of the basslines that are scattered throughout. For the most part the tracks are short and to the point (the longest is 4:14). Even the tracks that break four minutes fly by and the album flows incredibly well. This is one of the rare albums that can be listened to start to finish over and over again without growing old.

There are a slew of different vocal styles used throughout the album. This really adds to the intensity. As does the drumming, the kit is constantly being pummeled throughout and it gives off a very unrelenting feeling when listening. Some of the more tame tracks here are also excellent as well, the first one that comes to mind is "A Tradition Of Bloodshed" which, when compared to the rest of the album is much more traditional. These tracks focus more on crushing the listener rather than melting what is left of their brain. Overall they really help the album flow better and are infectious as hell.

Overall Reign of Vengeance is definitely worth a look. The band is clearly made up of badass musicians and there is not one dull moment on the record. This may not be anything extremely innovative but they do what they do well and fans of the style will enjoy. Any fans of Cephalic Carnage and similar bands should find something worthwhile here. Check it out.

Reign Of Vengeance Interview

Reign Of Vengeance's new album "Disemboweling Swine" was released July 7th, 2011 on Brain Damage Music. In this interview we get Tommy Gibbons and Marshall "Fucking" Beck's thoughts on the new album, the drummer situation, and horror among other things.

Foul Feast- Could you tell us a little about how the band came about?

    

Marshall- REIGN OF VENGEANCE was originally started by Mark Kozuback from Vehemence and myself with the intentions of doing one concept album "Revenge By Bloodshed" and not performing live shows. After Mark's departure, Tommy and I decided to carry the band onwards and write another album.  REIGN OF VENGEANCE has since written and recorded the"Disemboweling Swine" album and has done many extremely brutal,bloody, gore packed live shows.

FF- Paulicelli recently left his spot in the band as drummer. Did you guys part ways on good terms? Also, how are you going about finding a replacement?

Marshall- Yes, we are still on good terms with Paulicelli.  Samus is an extremely busy guy.  However, we would still drink beers and chill with the dude if we ever crossed paths.  The band is simply moving onward for its own progress.

FF- How have things been going in terms of doing gigs lately?

Marshall- We have been doing well with that up to this point but not as steadily as planned.  It will be much easier to perform and tour constantly once we have our new and fully committed drummer.  When we do get ourselves onstage we put on the most bloody and intense live show in death metal that I'm aware of.  

FF- How does the experience in this band compare to past or current experiences in other bands?

  

Tommy- Well first off this is a pro band no local yocal bullshit!....... I guess what I'm trying to say is most local bands want the rewards without doing the work. They want to get paid when they bring no one to shows and they think if they become local heroes it makes them bigger than everyone else. Working with local yocals was a pain in my ass. They never wanted to tour, never wanted to pitch or help out in anyway. It's pretty pathetic.

 FF- When did the writing process for Disemboweling Swine begin?

Tommy- I'd have to say about a year and a half to two years ago.

FF- A good portion of your music is very complex. When writing the record was it more of a group effort or did everyone write their own parts?

Tommy- I wrote the song structures, pre-productions, and formats. Then Nick and Samus came out and recorded their parts around the structures. 

Marshall wrote the lyrics and concepts.

FF- Do you like how the album has turned out and the response it has gotten so far?

Marshall- We are very satisfied with how the album has turned out.  That is all that matters. We do not care about the response.

FF- What are you hoping to achieve with this project in the next couple of years?

Marshall- We look forward to touring extensively and writing more music.  Those are the plans, those are the goals, they will be met.

 FF- I've read that one of your "Band Principles" is fun. Is fun something that you feel is lacking in the modern death metal scene?

Marshall- The point of making music is for personal enjoyment.  Unless you are a pop artist with a million dollar budget and expecting a million dollar paycheck there is no other reason to make music.  REIGN OF VENGEANCE takes itself very seriously when it comes to the creation of our music and the ability to put on a technically sound live show.  When we as individuals stop enjoying what we are doing then there will be no reason to continue. Death Metal does not get the bills paid, it is that simple.  

FF- I noticed you guys are on Brain Damage Music, are you all big horror fans?

Marshall- Yes, that is why we are signed with Brain Damage Films/Music.  BrainDamage Films is the world's largest distributor of horror movies and as THE horror movie death metal band we figured the alliance was perfect.  Having also helped launch countless very well known bands with their "Traces ofDeath" soundtrack REIGN OF VENGEANCE knew that Brain Damage Films/Music would be able to effectively assist in getting the band's goals met.

FF- What are some of your favorite horror flicks?

Marshall- I could go on for hours... Instead, I'll give you some must see and easily obtained mainstream horror films/movies in different sub genres.  There is a lot of really bad horror out there but you cannot go wrong with the listbelow.

Comedy Horror- "Dead Alive"

Shockumentary- "Traces of Death"

Show-  "Masters of Horror"

Exploitative-  "Cannibal Holocaust" 

Realistic and Disturbing-  "The Girl Next Door"

Old School but Updated (much like the music of REIGN OF VENGEANCE)-"Hatchet"

Supernatural-  "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch Project 2"

FF- Any final thoughts?

Marshall-  No. That is efficient.

Amputation Spree- Terminal Velocity EP

Amputation Spree is Theodore Spencer Van Dyk's brutal death metal project. Since the beginning of the bands existence releases have been flowing out at rapid pace and always deliver in terms of consistency. When most people think of brutal death it is either a love or hate relationship. Amputation Spree have managed to find that middle ground in the fact that those who hate the genre can most likely enjoy this release. With the thirteen minute runtime there is plenty here to keep the listener entertained.

There are a few sections of experimentation spread throughout this short release. These moments certainly make for an interesting listening experience. The entire first track has an odd quality going for it. For the most part it is just your typical death metal track with a bludgeoning quality to it, but the entire song the volume fades in and out. It creates an extremely weird and disorienting effect. Though it does make for an interesting listen it may, later on down the line, jeopardize the replay value of that particular track.

 The guitar playing like with previous releases focuses on the groove for the most part. An occasional melody gets incorporated into the music. An example of this would be in "Sudden Monolithic Realization Of Chaos and Suffering" right before it goes into a great solo. Aside from a few moments that have outburst of speed the majority of the album has that slow, cranium crunching pace that forces you to headbang while listening. The bass is overwhelmingly heavy on Terminal Velocity. The bass definitely adds a tremendous amount of thickness to the overall sound of the EP and hits like a haymaker with every note.

It is obvious that since the first EP Addicted To Beheading Children dropped Theodore has matured a bit musically. Each track featured on this release manages to have a very epic sound but still maintain that odd brutality that made his past material memorable. Another aspect that has improved since the split and EP is the vocal performance. While the vocals may not be quite as guttural as they used to be at times there is a greater amount of variation. Also it seems since the last release the delivery of the growls has gotten much more powerful.

Overall Terminal Velocity is a big improvement over something that was already pretty damn good. If a full-length release ever gets dropped from Amputation Spree with tracks up to par with the ones heard here, well let's just say you would probably want to hide your children. Amputation Spree is slowly becoming the best free music money can buy. Fans of brutal death metal should give this one a look, and metalheads in general who can appreciate the more extreme styles will also find this worthy of a listen.

Disfigured- Amputated Gorewhore

Disfigured is a four piece death metal band from Texas. Amputated Gorewhore marks their second full-length since their formation back in 2003. Since their last album in 2008 it is obvious that they have upped the ante. Amputated Gorewhore is a vicious onslaught of gore soaked death metal that will please all gorehounds and metalheads alike. At just over thirty minutes heads will be crushed and lives will be lost.

The guitar playing here has a healthy amount of variation. Disfigured aren't strangers of a little thing called tremolo picking. The fretwork is handled with deadly precision from start to finish and it is clear that the man working the axe, Mike DeLeon has chops. Many of the riffs featured on the album are more infectious than a veteran hooker (that's pretty damn infectious!). When listening it is clear that Disfigured know how to write a solid song which is one task that many brutal bands fail to achieve. The vocals are fairly standard for the style. Very guttural and brutal to say the least, they fit what the band is churning out perfectly and are delivered with a respectable amount of power.

One thing that makes this album standout when compared to a slew of other death metal albums is the fact that the bass is very high in the mix. On top of that Adam DeLeon not only get's to be heard playing, a good portion of the time the basslines standout just as much as the guitars. Normally when a rare occurrence like this happens in metal the bassist is just following along with the riff but on Amputated Gorewhore a big chunk of the time he gets to stray away from the pack and do some pretty cool stuff. It would be ridiculous to say that you could take the bass out of this album and it would be just as good, because to put it simply, it plays a gigantic part in this album.

While at first glance the album very much consists of brutal death metal, Disfigured inject a decent amount of old school flavor into the overall sound. It would be an understatement to say Amputated Gorewhore packs a punch, because that is just the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the tracks featured on the album fall in between two or three minutes, and, like many other gore drenched albums like this a few of the tracks feature samples. Even with the short track lengths Disfigured lunge straight for the listeners throat and don't let go until they are drained of life.

Overall Disfigured show no signs of slowing. Amputated Gorewhore delivers exactly what one who is familiar with the band should expect, a nice and heavy slab of death metal. It is well written with near perfect execution. Fans of the style couldn't ask for much more. Keep an eye out for future pieces of brutality from Disfigured and until then pick this up. It will tide you over until the next tidal wave of blood clashes with your face.

Revulsion- Undressing External Humanity

Revulsion is a five piece death metal band from Finland. The band is clearly in no hurry in terms of releases considering this is the only thing they've put out in their six years together. Clocking in at just over ten minutes and featuring only four tracks this demo has the potential to level tall buildings and bust bullet proof glass, to put it in simple terms this is one tough release. Before listening it would be advised that you should find the nearest helmet and strap it on, safety first.

The guitar playing is straightforward for the most part. Skull shattering grooves are blended with face grinding tremolo sections creating a devastating combo of vicious kickassery. The tone is nice and thick and goes great with the pulverising rhythms the band dishes out frequently. The playing is really tight from start to finish. Throughout the release you can hear Alatalo adding some chunkiness to the sound. On tracks like "Breathing Nest" it is most noticeable. The playing works not only as a back up to the guitar but it also adds to the catchiness of a lot of the riffs here. "Häväisty" features a main riff that will drift around in your head for hours.

The vocals are channeled straight from the center of the earth. Booming gutturals fill this record and add so much brutality to the overall sound. On a full-length release the band may want to consider throwing in some more variation but with a short release like this it is perfectly fine. That's not to say that there is absolutely no variation throughout, but it is only a rare occasion when one will he a scream belted out or a change in pitch. Karppinen is very consistent behind his kit. There are enough tempo changes involved to keep the listener fully entertained.

Overall Undressing External Humanity is a very solid effort. If Revulsion can keep this up on future releases they'll be set. With all that being said this is far from being groundbreaking, it is just crushing mid-tempo death metal and fans of the style will eat it up. Even though this is Revulsion's first release it is clear they have a grasp on how to use their instruments and write good music. The song structures vary and keep the listening experience fresh from start to finish. Those of you who enjoy some crushing death metal should give this one a shot.

Mincing Fury and Guttural Clamour of Queer Decay- Devolution

Mincing Fury and Guttural Clamour of Queer Decay are a goregrind/brutal death metal band from Czech Republic. The band formed in 1996 and have since released four full-lengths while in between doing splits with bands like Fuck the Facts and Screaming Afterbirth. Mincing Fury never limit themselves to the stereotypes of one genre, they play whatever they feel necessary and this may cause the album to be too crazy for many to handle.

The album is introduced with the soundtrack from the drug induced, mindfuck movie Requiem For A Dream, which is now re-titled "Requiem For A Fury". After this ends you descend straight down to the musical hell hole that is Devolution. The vocals on Devolution are insane. There is a dual vocal attack from Reef and Milcunt and many styles are used throughout the album. The majority of the album the vocals are the center of attention, whether the vocalists be using gutturals, gang shouts, hardcore yells, shrieks, squeals, croaks, or whatever other batshit vocal style one can think of.

Everything is very easy to make out on Devolution. The bass is audible the majority of the time and adds to the overall heaviness of this grind circus Mincing Fury displays with the album. Most of the tracks here consist of re-recordings of the band's past material but there are also five new songs for those seeking new Mincing music. The drumming is delivered with just as much energy as everything else featured here. Blastbeats are played with machinelike precision, and when a groove comes up the band runs with it.

The guitarwork here consists of tons of grooves that will make you want to punch the nearest human being (or animal) square in the face. Some moments of technicality pop up throughout the album, one of the most notable of these moments would be featured in the song "Blind". The track features complex riff that back the spastastic vocals that infest this release. The band throws in enough variety to keep things extremely interesting and tears the listener to shreds in the process.

Overall with Devolution Mincing Fury have managed to create something that can only be described as a full on brutal raping of the ear. This is what serial killers hear in their head all day as they commit their heinous crimes. This is highly recommended for those looking for a fun, heavy album to crank at full volume and scare everyone in the neighborhood. This is the musical equivalent of walking in on your parents doing the dirty.

Mild Manner Misogyny- Stronger Mind, Stronger You!

Mild Manner Misogyny is back after their split with Amputation Spree on a solo outing. Stronger Mind, Stronger You! is a four track demo that clocks in at just under ten minutes and it dives deeper into the unique sound that was displayed on the split. Those who listened to the split know what they are getting themselves into, prepare yourself for an interesting brand of brutal death metal that separates itself from the pack.

The demo is full of twists and turns and really manages to surprise the listener on more than one occasion. The clean vocals featured on "A Romantic Dinner For Two" come out of nowhere and add an eerie atmosphere to the track. The majority of the vocals here are croaky grunts and shrieks. Vocal layering is used a good portion of the demo. While the vocals are harsh the lyrics are very easy to decipher. When it comes to lyrical themes this is filled with stories of sticking seven dicks in one woman and convincing whores to kill themselves, classy indeed.

Though I'm not the biggest fan of breakdowns the band uses them in a very effective way and close out tracks like "A Romantic Dinner For Two" in a very crushing manner. There are many great grooves to be had in the short time this demo plays, but when the band speeds things up is when they shine the most. The speedy sections in "Do It Now" are superb and feature one of the more complex guitar parts on the release.

It's hard to compare this band's sound to any other artist in particular. They've done themselves a solid by molding their own sound, between the outlandish vocal performance and the obscure guitarwork that pops up throughout. It is hard not to be captivated while listening to Strong Mind, Strong You! Overall for a ten minute demo this tears the listener up pretty good. Highly recommended for those into brutal death metal. The band experiments a lot within the short runtime of this demo and it would be very interesting to see what they could do on a full-length. Until then the split and this should be plenty to tide you over. Did I mention there is a recorder solo? Yes, a fucking recorder solo! Get this.