Rating: 7.7

Country: Sweden

Release Date: 2005

Track list:
1. Memento Mori
2. Fleshwork
3. Immaculate Rancidity
4. The Bullets Beckon
5. Crucifiend
6. Widowmaker
7. Tools of Termination
8. Blood Clotted Eyes
9. Larvaeon
10. Deviance

Band Website: Deviant

Deviant - Larvaeon

Johan - Guitars/Bass
Magnus - Guitars
Alex - Vocals
EB - Drums

Having mused wistfully of late “whatever happened to Deranged?” after they peaked on 'High on Blood' it is a pleasure to listen to something that has that album's essence at its core, fused to an array of Swedish death metal influences both old and new. The detuned ugliness and squat brutish punchiness juxtaposed with razor shredding, trills and dual sewer/shriek vocals are delivered with youthful vigour. However, Deviant on debut have the freedom to expand borders as Deranged should have done long before achieving monotony.

The instruments sound great with good separation. Guitars have a Hate Eternal edge to the meaty/serrated classic Swedish death overtones and the overall production is Aborted-like. There are many smouldering moments of languor with heavy sustain and some Behemoth/Dissection nobility (e.g. the end of “Fleshwork”). Like the album, the drums are not over-complicated but always effective, stinging the listener at key moments during tasty fills and tempo variations. Demo tracks reworked for the album have Kataklysm-like brutality and hint at parallels with The Monolith Deathcult, whom would without doubt complement Deviant in a live environment.

Admittedly, it is a bit too easy to play “spot the influence” during 'Larvaeon' (the title track itself is an unstructured collage of riff styles), but it is obvious that this album has been lovingly retched out by high octane fanatics and their integrity will do them proud when they start to push their abilities for the second album.

November 12th, 2005