Deconformity - From The End To Inseminate CD Review artwork

Rating: 5.0

Country: USA

Release Date: 2007

Track list:
1. Pious Idol [mp3]
2. Condemned
3. Brutality Reborn
4. Cholera
5. From the End to Inseminate
6. Exile from Extinction
7. Twilight Funeral
8. Visions of Betrayal
9. Impale the Savior
10. Misery Chord

Band Website: Deconformity

Deconformity - From The End To Inseminate

Michael Robinson - Vocals
Tony Pandolfino - Guitars
Michael Hutchinson - Guitars
Josh Leal - Bass
Ed Crosby - Drums

The persistent desire to push the boundaries of brutality is commendable in death metal, as long as the music does not suffer. Deconformity take a sensible approach of collating their classic influences (e.g. Cannibal Corpse, Bolt Thrower, Deicide, Entombed, Obituary) and reworking them in a modern, crunchy and ultra-brutal context, matching the philosophy of Inquity somewhat, particularly in the grooves. The result is neither faceless nor mind-blowing, but shows a little promise for the future. But be warned...

The first sentence above implies far more than it says; I was sorely tempted to conclude the review as quickly as possible. Why? Because some imbecile involved in recording this has let the signals go into the red almost entirely throughout the album. Yes, From the End to Inseminate is speaker-busting in a bad way and gave me a headache trying to analyse its value. Most of the full-on blasting brutality is just white noise and guitar feedback is extremely painful. Normally I'd complain that the triggered snares are too synthetic but I'm thankful for small mercies as the more natural kick and floor tom blow the whole thing to overdriven hell. The doubled vocals and bass guitar are the only things that don't suffer unduly from excessive clipping.

Thankfully "Pious Idol" is not a live TV singing competition for religious leaders but it certainly is a right(eous) old mess; rather like having your head inside the PA at a Bolt Thrower gig. Some trebly parts of the soloing/trilling riffs and tapping drill through your skull under a quagmire of cementitious grit, hairballs and faeces. The first legible moment of "Brutality Reborn" is a dull metalcorish slam groove. But, "Exile from Extinction" has a densely layered 35-second section based around a monolithic chord progression, starting with a solo echoing in the void and ending with sweeps and imperious scales evoking some titanic space battle. Similarly, "Impale the Savior" has a spacious/alien synth-backed doubled guitar 25-second passage that gets the thumbs-up. "Misery Chord" suffers marginally less in the clarity stakes and is the least painful on the hearing. Its beginning is based around a melodic Eastern scale now incapable of being dissociated from Nile's monopoly on them.

I suggest that only the foolhardy should purchase this (make sure your precious amplifier has clipping protection!) but the band have taken an undeserved critical blow to their success. Should they re-record it? No. Probably best to move on, change band name and put it down to experience. I'd certainly like to hear more from whoever does the leadwork. The soloing is very emotive, dynamic and passionate, like a beautiful phoenix swooping over its own filthy ashes. Of course, I'm assuming the player(s) in question haven't gone completely deaf by now listening to their own album.

January 3rd, 2008