Review artwork - Barbarity - Enough Graves For Everybody CD

Rating: 6.0

Country: Russia

Release Date: 2006

Track list:
1. Blind Fear
2. Graves For Everybody
3. Death As Deliverance From Reality
4. Repository of Tormented Souls
5. Mankind - No A Mere Shadow of It
6. Rust In Goreswamp
7. Moral Depravity
8. Staph Terrorist

Band Website: Barbarity

Barbarity - Enough Graves For Everybody

Roman - Vocals
Max - Guitar, Bass
Thanatoliy - Drums

Barbarity from Russia here happen to play brutal death metal, of the kind that is highly simplistic, almost infantile by nature. Hard to believe therefore that this is their third full length album, which makes me wonder what kind of a learning curve they have had, if they have had one at all. Any simpler and they could market their music as death metal from the womb, and given the IQ level of the typical brutal fans, it would even be a raging success.

Then again, this could just be my eliteness accreted over the years that is talking. For confessedly oversimplistic, the music on Enough Graves for Everybody is catchy to a fault and sticks in your head as tenaciously as a wet chewed gum on top of it. I daresay it is like an east European version of Six Feet Under, but a most unassuming one and without giving it any serious thought, probably a whole lot better too. To elaborate on the east European aspect, I would liken the way Barbarity move around to Fleshless's "electrically charged steel ball bouncing" style of their fledging Grindgod/Abhorrence of Cadaveric days, were one to cruelly deprive them of their technicality and drum machine propelled speed. Some of their riffs seem to be bobbing in the sluggish thrash undercurrent of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer in “Graves for Everybody” for example, while the more energetic and rudimentary thrash riffs like in “Death As Deliverance From Reality” are strongly reminiscent of Merlin and Depressive Reality. “Repository of Tormented Souls” is evocative of early Sepultura, especially during their build-up creating parts, and also of the Malevolent Creation lashings. Unfortunately, instead of Max's savage growls or eviscerating Hoffman screams, you have to be content with nondescript squealing vocals.

Barbarity have punctiliously maintained their songs at a mid-pace, as though playing any slower or faster would completely destroy their equilibrium and progress and they will then have to play them right from the beginning again. It helps that their sound is as crunchy as biting on a mouthful of glass, though their unsophisticated brutal disposition requires it to be chunky as well and it is a bloody shame that it isn't, deflating the pompousness of their chugging riffs and thrashy breakdowns. It comes as a huge relief that their songs are interestingly structured, for they are sketchily composed with way too much emphasis given on catchiness of its parts – perhaps Barbarity believe they are greatly indebted to the common listener and feel that it is only through their servile behaviour that they can ever make up for it and win their approval. “Rust In Goreswamp” is where Barbarity thankfully come into their own – a punchy and compulsive song featuring legitimate death metal riffs vaguely resembling Sinister or Krabathor, where you see them traversing heartily on a hitherto untrodden path. The subsequent snappy one, “Mortal Depravity” further strengthens the prospect of spending money on Barbarity also in the future. Lastly, you are pampered with a decent cover of Impetigo, ending the album on a rather upbeat note.

Despite Barbarity‘s elementary music, their songs are a breeze to listen to and in today's blast-happy times that can be perceived as an advantage. Ideal for when you are getting ready for a date or cleaning your room. The kind of music that would hardly ever trouble you, with there being a good possibility of you humming or nodding your head to it. Personally though, in stark contrast to my choice of girls, I like my death metal to be fucking heavy and demanding. But if you want my sagely advice, buy Enough Graves for Everybody to match your light brutal moods, and when you get around to feeling too old or brutal for it, pass it on with dignity to your younger sibling as a special, thoughtful gift from his dear old brother.

July 20th, 2007